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 Feb 03, 2023
Episode 99: Chris Hemsworth / Alzheimer’s Disease
Friday Feb 03, 2023
Friday Feb 03, 2023
Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of actor Chris Hemsworth. They discuss his background, his early roles and his breakthrough roles in “Star Trek” and ‘Thor” (1:00). Then Asif gives Ali a trivia quiz on all things Hemsworth. Then, the guys discuss how on Chris’ new show “Limitless”, he discusses that genetic testing reveals that he has an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Asif starts off by giving a bit of background on Allzheimers, what causes it and how common it is (15:49). He then talks about how it is diagnosed as well as the treatment and prognosis. Asif talks about the current treatment as well as the promising new drug Lecanemab. Then Ali brings up the testing done by Dr. Peter Attia on Limitless which revealed that Chris has 2 copies of the APOE4 gene which increases his risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 8-10 times.
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 doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
-
The BEST of 'Loki' Tom Hiddleston | The Graham Norton Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdwClcDvVao
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Chris Hemsworth Changed His Life After an Ominous Health Warning https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/11/chris-hemsworth-exclusive-interview-alzheimers-limitless
- Alzheimer disease: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1134817-treatment#d14
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Spirit of the West's John Mann, 57, dies after battle with Alzheimer's: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/spirit-of-the-west-s-john-mann-dead-1.5367381
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Is lecanemab the Alzheimer's drug that will finally make a difference? https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/12/08/1141396375/lecanemab-alzheimer-drug-researchers-hope
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Lecanemab in Early Alzheimer’s Disease: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2212948
Friday Jan 27, 2023
Episode 98: Interview with Julie Nolke
Friday Jan 27, 2023
Friday Jan 27, 2023
Today on a special episode, Ali and Asif interview actress, comedian and YouTube sensation Julie Nolke. They start off by discussing Julie’s background and how she almost pursued engineering before studying theatre. She then discusses how she struggled for years with auditioning before finding her voice on YouTube. They then discuss her viral hit video “Explaining the pandemic to my past self”, which has over 20 million views. Ali then asks Julie about online criticism which is often sexist when it comes to female comedians. Jule then describes her creative process and the work involved in putting out her weekly videos on her YouTube channel. The guys then ask Julie about her collaborations with Ryan George and Bruce McCulloch. Finally the guys talk about Julie and Ali both being cast on ‘Run the Burbs’ and discuss the second season of the hit sitcom.
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 doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
-
Julie Noke YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@julienolke
-
The 6 Year Overnight Success | Julie Nolke | TEDxIIITA: Julie TEDX talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_azujpI4tmE
- Sketches of a Comedic Life on Video: https://www.swaggermagazine.com/home/selfmade/JulieNolke
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Bruce McCulloch Admires the ‘Ferocious’ Comedy of Julie Nolke: https://www.vulture.com/article/julie-nolke-bruce-mcculloch-interview.html
- Run the Burbs: https://gem.cbc.ca/media/run-the-burbs/s01
Friday Jan 20, 2023
Episode 97: Mindy Kaling / Ozempic
Friday Jan 20, 2023
Friday Jan 20, 2023
Today the guys discuss the career of actress and comedian Mindy Kaling (2:12). Ali and Asif start off her background and when they first saw her on television. They then talk about her roles in ‘The Office’, ‘The Mindy Project’ and her creating ‘Never Have I Ever’, as well as her book “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?”. Then, Asif tells the unbelievable story about Mindy’s brother pretending to be black to get into medical school in the USA.
The guys then discuss the diabetes and weight loss medication semaglutide (Ozempiv, Wegovy) (25:14). NB although the gossip pages have alleged Mindy Kaling has used this medication for weight loss, there is NO EVIDENCE that Mindy has used this medication. Asif talks about how the medication works and the evidence for its use in diabetes and obesity.
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 doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
-
My Favorite Eleven Moments in Comedy: https://publicism.info/humor/hanging/17.html
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Trying to prove reverse racism, Mindy Kaling’s brother uncovered actual racism: https://www.vox.com/2015/4/7/8354457/mindy-kaling-brother-racism
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Mindy Kaling on Why Her Work with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Is So Personal (Exclusive): https://www.etonline.com/mindy-kaling-on-why-her-work-with-the-pancreatic-cancer-action-network-is-so-personal-exclusive
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Velma Season 1 Review: Episodes 1-8:; https://www.ign.com/articles/velma-season-1-review-episodes-1-8
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Mindy Kaling Says it 'Took a Long Time' to Let Go of Losing Weight for 'Vanity Reasons': https://people.com/health/mindy-kaling-says-it-took-a-long-time-to-let-go-of-losing-weight-for-vanity-reasons/
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The awful truth about celeb weight-loss drug Ozempic: https://www.thestar.com/life/fashion_style/2022/12/21/the-awful-truth-about-celeb-weight-loss-drug-ozempic.html
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Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
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A Big STEP Forward: Semaglutide as an obesity treatment: https://drsue.ca/2021/02/a-big-step-forward-semaglutide-as-an-obesity-treatment/
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Semaglutide for weight loss: https://www.cfp.ca/content/67/11/842
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Managing the gastrointestinal side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists in obesity: recommendations for clinical practice: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00325481.2021.2002616
Friday Jan 13, 2023
Episode 96: Nepo Kids / Type 2 diabetes
Friday Jan 13, 2023
Friday Jan 13, 2023
Today, Ali and Asif discuss the phenomenon of “Nepo Babies” in Hollywood (1:30). They talk about the origin of the term, which was coined by Meriem Derradji, a 25-year-old Canadian tech-support worker while commenting on Maude Apatow from ‘Euphoria’ being the daughter of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann. Then the guys give the audience a quiz, asking if they can guess the famous father of the lead singer of the band ‘Inhaler’. Asif then asks Ali if he has encountered the “Nepo Baby” phenomenon over the course of his entertainment career. They then discuss various ‘Nepo Babies” in Hollywood as well as some quotes from them. Then the guys discuss Type 2 diabetes (37:06). They discuss the differences from Type 1 diabetes and how the incidence is increasing. They then discuss the causes and risk factors for Type 2 diabetes as well as how doctors test for it. Asif then goes over the complications as well as what people can do to help manage the disease.
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 doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
-
Inhaler - Cheer Up Baby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtnEwlMOFbg
-
How a Nepo Baby Is Born: https://www.vulture.com/article/what-is-a-nepotism-baby.html?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1&utm_camp
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An All But Definitive Guide to the Hollywood Nepo-Verse: https://www.vulture.com/article/hollywood-nepotism-babies-list-taxonomy.html?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1&utm_campaign=nym
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In defence of ‘nepo babies’ — we know, we know. But hear us out: https://www.thestar.com/life/opinion/2022/12/21/in-defence-of-nepo-babies-we-know-we-know-but-hear-us-out.html
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Which Nepo Baby Said It? https://www.vulture.com/article/nepo-baby-quotes-quiz.html
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Why Allison Williams has the best ‘nepo baby’ comeback: https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/hollywood-nepo-baby-stars-adopt-allison-williams-strategy-rcna64514
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Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/117853-overview
Friday Jan 06, 2023
Episode 95: Celine Dion / Stiff-Person Syndrome
Friday Jan 06, 2023
Friday Jan 06, 2023
The guys start off by welcoming everyone to 2023 and they also talk about their recent trip to Dubai. They then discuss the career of Celine Dion (4;16). Ali talks about how he heard about her in the 80’s while growing up in Quebec. They talk about her crossover success with her English albums and her mega hits “Beauty and the Beast” and “My Heart Will Go on”. They then go over some little known facts about her life and career. Then Ali asks Asif about Celine’s recent diagnosis of Stiff-Person Syndrome (26:53). Asif talks about the symptoms, cause and how it is diagnosed. He then goes over the treatment and prognosis for 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 doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
-
Céline Dion Carpool Karaoke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsUURLFnr9k
-
Celine Dion Reschedules Spring 2023 shows to 2024, and cancels eight Summer 2023 shows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7_mb-zUG30
- Stiff-Person Syndrome: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/stiff-person-syndrome
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Episode 94: Favourite Entertainment from 2022
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Friday Dec 16, 2022
As a year-end treat, the guys go over their favourite entertainment from 2022… and decide to omit a medical topic. Ali and Asif start off by talking about their favourite books they read last year. Then they discuss what they listened to last year including music and podcasts. The guys then compare notes on their favourite tv shows and movies from this past year.
NB: The pod will be taking the next two weeks off. We will see all of you in the new year!
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 doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Episode 93: Interview with Steve Way / Muscular Dystrophy
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Friday Dec 09, 2022
WARNING: Explicit Language in this episode
Today Asif and Ali are pleased to welcome comedian Steve Way, co-star of the hit Hulu show ‘Ramy’ (0:57). They talk about how Steve got into comedy, his influences, and some of the barriers he has faced being a comedian with a disability. Ali then asks Steve about his past employment as a substitute teacher and Steve talks about how much he enjoyed interacting with and teaching high school students. They then discuss how Steve got his role on ‘Ramy’ and Bella Hadid playing his fiance this season. Ali then asks Steve about his advocacy for patients with disabilities. They then talk to Steve about living with his rare form of muscular dystrophy, Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy, his interaction with health professionals and his diagnostic odyssey. Steve highlights how important it is for health professionals to discuss reproductive issues with patients who have disabilities.
Check out Steve’s 1 hour set at Caveat in NYC on Dec 29!
Then Ali and Asif do deep dive into muscular dystrophy (28:37), specifically the most common form, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Asif goes over the cause, symptoms, prognosis and treatment. Then Asif discusses the rare entity Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy. He then goes over some potential existing gene therapies for muscular dystrophy.
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 doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
- Steve Way personal website https://www.thesteveway.com/
- 32ND ANNUAL STEVE WAY BIRTHDAY BASH: https://www.caveat.nyc/events/steve-way-12-29-2022
- ‘Ramy’ Actor Steve Way Wonders Why Americans Haven't ‘Rioted’ Over This One Issue: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ramy-steve-way-disability-health-care-2020_n_5d2e3533e4b0a873f6430f2a
- Muscular Dystrophy Canada: https://muscle.ca/
- Muscular Dystrophy Association: https://www.mda.org/
- Collagen VI-Related Dystrophies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1503/
- Cure CMD: https://www.curecmd.org/
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Episode 92: Favourite Albums of 1992 / Circumcision
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Today the guys start of with some (good/bad??) news about the podcast TikTok account. Then the guys discuss their favourite albums from 1992 (5:25). The guys each give their top 10 lists from the year. Then Ali asks Asif about the sometimes controversial topic of circumcision (45:13). Asif talks about the history of the practice and some of the criticisms of it. Then Asif talks about whether there is evidence for health benefits from circumcision and also talks about the risks of the procedure. He then concludes by stating that most pediatrics groups do not recommend routine circumcision for all newborn males in North America; however if parents are considering the procedure for their child, it is important to discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor.
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 doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
-
Asif’s 1992 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLmQ2vxMbn0&list=PLh7rgup-OZBc2_md6XYzWaSLdduYL8Iya
- Ali’s 1992 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYyRLTveFJQ&list=PLh7rgup-OZBfMDdKmlUWk2dPx-LveGnOf
-
Newborn male circumcision: https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/circumcision#table1
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Circumcision Policy Statement: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/130/3/585/30235/Circumcision-Policy-Statement?searchresult=1
-
Circumcision: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1015820-overview?icd=ssl_login_success_221127
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Examining Penile Sensitivity in Neonatally Circumcised and Intact Men Using Quantitative Sensory Testing: https://read.qxmd.com/read/26724395/examining-penile-sensitivity-in-neonatally-circumcised-and-intact-men-using-quantitative-sensory-testing
Friday Nov 25, 2022
Episode 91: Jay Leno
Friday Nov 25, 2022
Friday Nov 25, 2022
Jay Leno is now at home recovering from serious burn injuries; on today’s episode, Asif and Ali discuss Jay’s career and accomplishments. However to start off, Ali asks Asif about how common burns are and the differences between first, second and third degree burns (1:20). Asif then goes over how to treat burns and the use of hyperbaric oxygen for burns. They then discuss Jay Leno’s career and his early life (and specifically mention that they will NOT be talking a lot about Conan or cars) (15:17). They discuss his early comedy career and how he became the heir apparent to Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show”. They then discuss some infamous stories from Leno’s life. Finally Asif asks Ali about Jay Leno’s legacy in 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 doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
-
Jay Leno's Employee Gives Update On Jay Leno’s Burns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9A4Zm2MY8U
-
Jay Leno Had Surgery for Second and Third-Degree Burns: The 'Burns to the Face Are More Concerning': https://people.com/health/jay-leno-had-surgery-for-second-and-third-degree-burns-burns-to-the-face-are-more-concerning/
-
Jay Leno Admits Hiding In NBC Executive’s Office Twice: https://www.accessonline.com/articles/jay-leno-admits-hiding-in-nbc-executives-office-twice-142799
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Tenth European Consensus Conference on Hyperbaric Medicine: recommendations for accepted and non-accepted clinical indications and practice of hyperbaric oxygen treatment: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6147240/
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Leno's testimony is no joke for Jackson's defence team: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/25/michaeljacksontrial.usa
-
Joe Rogan Experience #692 - Jay Leno: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvdM_u4NZQw
-
Jay Leno: Revenge of the Everyman: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/12/jay-leno-revenge-of-the-everyman
Friday Nov 18, 2022
Friday Nov 18, 2022
On this special episode, Ali and Asif interview the hosts of ‘The Gritty Nurse Podcast’, Amie Archibald Varley and Sara Fung. They start off by asking Amie and Sara their origin stories, how they got into nursing and how they started their podcast. Amie and Sara then discuss the issues of hierarchy and bullying in the culture of nursing. They speak about the success of their podcast and their favorite episodes. They then discuss the current crisis in nursing in Canada and the rest of North America, violence towards health care professionals, and the issue of burnout in nursing.
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 doctorvcomedian@gmail.com
Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian
Show Notes:
- The Gritty Nurse Podcast: https://www.grittynurse.com/