Sickboy

Competitive accidents and medical nightmares are what we're bringing to the table to send you off into your weekend! Everyone knows MMA is violent, but no one was expecting Canadian fighter, Khetag Pliev, to lose his finger during a fight last week! A family in the U.S. was also not expecting to lose a loved one to a taco eating competition in 2019. Then in our latest segment of "What The Hellth!" we cover a case report about a gentleman who didn't take his diabetes medications, leaving him with high levels of "triglycerides" in his blood. Basically so much fat content in his blood that it came out milk white! Buckle up folks.

Dr. Gaibrie Stephen (Dr. Gabe) is an emergency physician with an interest in health inequity and improving emergency medicine care. This week the gang chat about the importance of paid sick leave and how Canada seems to be dropping the ball on a no-brainer! We go into the details of paid sick leave, how it would work, who it would benefit, and how COVID has shown us how important this type of social program can be!

Anbrea.. damn-it. ANDREA has dyslexia. Has that stopped her from excelling academically and professionally? Hell no. Just means that she has to put a whole hell of a lot more work into what she is doing and find ways to cope with the challenges she's been dealt with. The fellas get schooled on all things dyslexia, in what turns out to be an equally fun and fascinating conversation with their new pal, Anbrea... er... Andrea.

Who wouldn't want to have a viking warrior send-off? Maine may make open air funeral pyres a reality! We talk about the ins and outs of receiving a hero’s send-off. Is it safe to roast marshmallows over a burning corpse? Brian seems to think so. Then Jer introduces the gang to a hilarious yet horrible story of an elderly woman who mistook a massive wad of wasabi for avocado. Spoiler alert: She wasn't okay.

MKULTRA was the code name for a top-secret mass-scale series of psychological human experiments performed by the CIA in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Experiments on humans were intended to weaken the individual and force confessions through brainwashing and psychological torture. Although it sure sounds like some tin-foil hat conspiracy, it's true and it's horrifying. This week we have an in-depth and fascinating conversation with Michelle Shephard, investigative journalist and host of CBC's Brainwashed, a podcast all about the CIA, LSD and the victims of one of the most bizarre social experiments ever conducted.

This week we do something a little different! We explore how the very relatable and common life experiences of grief and mental illness can be used as an effective narrative tool in providing spooks in film and television! The gang chats with Madison Walsh and Michael Musi, the co-stars and co-creators of the CBC Gem series Something Undone. The series follows Jo, who goes home to settle her late mother’s estate, where she discovers a dark family secret and becomes obsessed with finding the truth. Check out Something Undone on CBC Gem for free!

Sperm. Ever wonder what would happen if you injected it into your veins? Spoiler alert: the results aren't desirable. Speaking of sperm — ever wonder what would happen if the global sperm rate fell to zero? Spoiler alert: the results aren't desirable. This weeks episode is basically a SFW bukkake special. The whole episode is drenched in sperm talk. On top of that we talk about the beauty in pleasuring one's self with one's deceased lovers ashes. Yeah... this week is a lot.

This week the gang hear from past guest and mental health advocate Mark Henick all about the implications of Bill-C7 on people with mental illness. MAID (Medical Assistance In Dying) has been available to those who were staring death in the face, living with an incurable and end stage illness. Now Canada has opened the doors to allow folks suffering from mental illness the same access to end their life in the name of ending suffering. Although according to Mark, this seems to be an easy out. Instead of offering people with mental illness the very much needed resources to care for their mental health, the government has decided to allow them to take the route of assisted death. Does it boil down to money? Lack of public education? Lack of will? We get serious this week and tackle something that deserves quite a bit of attention.

On April 6, 2018, Kaleb's life changed forever. It was like any other day, traveling with his team on their way to a game when all of a sudden everything went black. When Kaleb finally woke up in the hospital four days later he was told about the tragic incident that took the lives of 16 of his closest friends. The Humboldt Broncos bus crash is a tragedy that shook the entire planet and Kaleb shares with us how he has used the power of a positive attitude to beat the odds and strive to live the best life he can live. Be sure to check out Crossroads, his new book.

Between pranks and equine therapy there are lots of ways to make your hospital stay a bit more enjoyable. Speaking of equine therapy, have you ever heard of Dr. Payo? It's enough to bring a tear to your eye. You'll love him and the work he does about 100x more than Taylor loves Loki. We also cover a WILD medical case about a collapsed iris. Oh, and Brian finally admits to being a Grey's Anatomy poser. 10 episodes maybe?! Get outta here!

Tranna Wintour, a performer and co-host of CBC’s Chosen Family podcast, joins the hosts of Sickboy to discuss the effect of the pandemic on the arts, mental health and finding connection through podcasting.

What's scarier? Being deployed to a war zone to fight a foreign enemy? Or going to battle against a foreign cancer that is eating away at you from the inside out? Brandi Benson is no stranger to either experience. The gang chat with her about the experience of being pulled from the ranks in order to navigate the challenges of fighting a rare form of bone cancer. “Basic training had taught me how to fight, how to use a gun, throw grenades, how to push past my physical limits, combat techniques, and how to defend my country—but this was a different kind of battle. It crept up on me like a stealth enemy in the night. I was not ready for such an attack from within.” - Brandi Benson

It's been one full year since Sickboy wondered "Wut Da Hek Is COVID?" We kickstart FGF with a throwback to the preacher who introduced us to the true meaning of death by bass. Zoom court hearings! A new meme machine that shows us how little Zoom etiquette some folks have. Then the gang talk about a man who did some snowcaine while eating toxic blowfish liver. Could this be the beginning of a new FGF segment: Florida Man or Nah.

Asante Haughton is a mental health advocate who looks at the challenges surrounding mental illness through a lens of race. Born in Toronto, Asante draws from his own life experience as a Black man living with mental illness and the system (or lack thereof) to support him. Asante is the co-founder of Reach Out Response Network, a non-police mental health emergency service, led by clinicians and peer workers from the communities they serve. The pilot is set to begin in Toronto.

Meet Lucy Greco. She is the Accessibility Evangelist and this week she took the fellas to church!! Tune in as she teaches her newest disciples all about inclusive design and how accessible design benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities. From washing machines to AI she covers it all.

Move over Jolene, there's a new babe in town and her name is Moderna! The Backwoods Barbie shows the world how to get vaccinated in style. The gang discuss the importance of Japan's newly-appointed Minister Of Loneliness whose job is to manage the country's first rise in suicides in 11 years. Ever hear of hikikomori? Then, what does one do with a 9-day grade IV boner? Go to the doctor, that's what. We go deep into the world of Priapism. Apologies to Louise if we completely butcher all anatomy portions of this episode. We didn't have any professionals to keep us in line.

"DID WE JUST BECOME BEST FRIENDS?!" Dylan is a health advocate, fundraiser and public speaker. He is also no stranger to cancer treatment. Since being diagnosed with Lymphoma in his second year of university, he has gone through the cancer battle another two times! That's enough cancer to make most normal folks feel pretty gosh darn down and out but Dylan is one the most radiantly positive guests that has ever stepped up to the mic on Sickboy. We talk about his positive mental attitude, his fascinating experience with stem cell transplants, and how all of this has taken a toll on his mental health!

What's the secret to beating COVID as a 105-year-old woman? According to Lucia DeClerc, prayer and a daily dose of liquor-soaked fruit. Also, we learn that raccoons LOVE raw hot dogs and that the human anus is hella stretchy. Don't worry those last two things aren't related. Well... sorta, but not really. Then the gang chat with Dr. Zetter all about MRNA. Not only is this little bike messenger a game changer in the world of COVID vaccines, it's also looking like it has a pretty bright future in cancer care and other genetic diseases!

"It all started with an itchy knob. Then ultra tight foreskin. Then he noticed a lump the size of a ""fat lentil"". Turns out, Jonathan Little had cancer of the willy, aka cancer of the ding dong, aka cancer of the weiner, aka Penile Cancer. Join the gang this week as they manage their very real phantom pains while Jonathan tells them the simultaneously horrifying yet hilarious breakdown of his experience of having this rare cancer. "

A new "Human Challenge Study" is coming to the UK. The gang weighs in on what price is right when risking your wellbeing in the name of science. Speaking of science, a group of smart people are trying to recreate an AI super-sniffing robot dog to either sniff out cancer, or eradicate the planet of humans. Good boy. Then the fellas speak with Joshua Keyes, a certified genetic counselor out of Boulder, Colorado! What the heck is genetic counseling? What role does it play in diagnosis & treatment? Is there a difference between the work that he does and the online services like 23&me? Joshua gives us all the deets on everything you didn't realize you wanted to know about your genes.

Julia is a psychotherapist and author who specializes in grief. Not only does she have an incredible ability to dissect and examine the myriad of ways we all deal with bereavement, she also has a wicked good sense of humour. In what may be one of the all-time greatest conversations we have had on the podcast, Julia and the gang tackle all types of grief. Not only grief from losing a loved one, but the grief of the lives we once knew. Be sure to check out Julia's latest book This Too Shall Pass. It is a beautiful piece of work and if you've been an OG Sickboy listener we know this book will be right up your alley.

This week we go DEEP into the world of feces AKA stool AKA poopy. From Jeremie's bowels explained from doctor Ben to the wonders of fecal transplant to wombat cube crap, to the utter sh*t show that is the private Long Term Care system that has completely failed our country. Naheed Dosani returns again to tell us all about the important work he is doing with the Doctors for Justice in LTC coalition!

Chosen Family is a podcast hosted by comedians and best friends, Thomas Leblanc and Tranna Wintour. The duo bring their signature wit and warmth to deep and meaningful conversations with artists and creators from music, television, film, and literature to illuminate the powerful connection between the creative process, community, and healing trauma. More episodes are available at: smarturl.it/chosenfamilycbc

Val was only 15 years old when her flight from France crash landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Dubbed the 'Toronto miracle,' all 309 passengers and crew survived this terrifying event. This week the fellas dive into how her life was forever changed by the events that took place on August 2nd, 2005. This scary and unfortunate event very well may have been the catalyst for Valerie's thriving career as a class action lawyer.

The whole gang is here!! Where is here? The brand spanking new Sickboy HQ in Halifax, that's where. Question for the medical professionals out there... is Jer's H2O consumption leading to a squirty butt? Also we get to the bottom of a viral video showing a group of Chinese folks "waddling like penguins" after their COVID anal swab. Spoiler alert — it's fake news. Then in honour of Black History Month, Lo presents us with a trimmed down version of one of the best conversations we've had in 2020 with Tari Ajadi about health inequities within the Black community here in Halifax.

Buckle up kids! This week we dive into the fascinating experience of living with an ultra rare disease known as Caroli's! Otherwise known as Congenital polycystic dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts. Oh yeah. Bile. No shortage of gnar. Marcy gives us the run down on "Bile Bags", Losing over half her Liver, and stones. Stones on stones on stones.

Get in the chopper and "Come with me if you want to live" is the catch phrase we all needed from Arnold as incredible amounts of the COVID-19 vaccine are being administered across the U.S. The gang cover a gross story about white privilege and Jeremie can't get his sh*t together! Then the fellers chat with famed science communicator and neuroscientist, Samantha Yammine. We talk about the role of science communication and how social media can be a wonderful tool to spark meaningful and important conversation surrounding public health and science education!

Kyle is a headbanger with a headache in his pelvis. This week the fellas explore the mysterious illness that has plagued Kyle ever since he got slammed in a 'wall of death' at a metal show. From colonoscopies to prostate screenings, the medical community were scratching their heads with this one, until eventually Kyle was given the diagnosis of Chronic Non-Bacterial Prostatitis.

This week we cover a horrifyingly unfortunate story out of the U.S. about a gentleman who made the ultimate wrong decision when it comes to administering psychedelics. Hot tip: don't inject mushrooms into your bloodstream unless you want to live in a real life body horror film. Then the gang speaks with Dr. Madhukar Pai about the big three: AIDS, malaria and TB. Three major pandemic/epidemics that have fallen by the wayside in the wake of COVID-19. Real talk Friday.

Every so often on Sickboy we hear stories that leave our jaws plopped right down on the floor. This is one of those stories. Not just because Samuel is such a fantastic story teller, but also because what he experienced is like something out of an HBO thriller! Although his experience left him with massive third degree burns and he has had countless surgeries over the years, Samuel doesn't let his accident get in the way of living the absolute best life possible. He's an incredibly thoughtful, charming and fun guest and we are beyond stoked about this week's episode.

This week things get very VERY interesting. The gang put a call out to all doctors (smart person & medical alike) to help with a titillating quandary that came in through the Turn Me On podcast about a listener who has some sort of link between ear stimulation and orgasms. Send us a letter if you know what the heck is going on here? Then we chat about the latest in vaccine news! The fellas then sit down and have a lovely conversation with Dr. Evan Taylor, who is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work & Human Services at the University of the Fraser Valley and holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia’s Department of Language and Literacy Education. They dive into the gaps in cancer care for the LGBTQ2+ community and explore all of the wonderful resources over at Queering Cancer!

Whitney has always been known as "The Boobie Queen". The nickname took on a whole new meaning after being diagnosed with stage three cancer at the age of 30! Join the gang for a wonderful conversation about perseverance all the while exploring Li-Fraumeni syndrome — an inherited familial predisposition to a wide range of certain, often rare, cancers. Whitney the Boobie Queen is a positive ray of light who has no problem bringing levity to a harsh diagnosis and is an inspiration to young adult cancer survivors everywhere!

2021 is off to a great start — Caillou is cancelled! Parents and children rejoice! The gang then talks about the horrifying new symptom that many long haul COVID patients are facing called "Parosmia". Would you rather smell farts for life? Or fish? Lauren is ready to train her nose for her inevitable eternity in the fiery pits of hell. Then the gang talks to one of our favourite guests from 2020, Dr. Jody Carrington! We talk about how entering the new year is a large feat and we need to bring that pos energy with us if we want to make the most of it! Happy new year folks! We love each and every one of you.

For our first new episode of 2021, we're psyched to bring you this conversation with standup comedian Jon Dore. After two major seizures and an epilepsy diagnosis, Jon has learned how to make dreaded visits to the hospital a little more fun. Here's a hint: always say 'ten.' For more laughs from Jon, check out Humour Resources, which airs on Tuesday evenings on CBC and CBC Gem starting January 5, 2021.

HAPPY NEW YEAR KIDDOS! Enjoy this re-release from all the way back in 2016! *** This week on Sickboy we sit down with Jim as he describes what life is like as someone who lives with extreme Dwarfism. We create a safe space where we can ask the questions we've always wanted to ask! We talk about everything from getting busy with an average sized person, to the names Jim and other little people prefer, work as an LP, and of course the age ol' question... how big is it? We also got to speak to Jim's 11 year old son Caden, He's also a little person and he's got a sailors mouth.

Happy holidays you sweet humans! Enjoy a re-release from one of our favourite conversations of the year. *** This week the boys talk to Ella from down under about lump that she found down under. Turns out that lump turned out to be cancer inside her anus. From intense hypochondria and anxiety to navigating a very rare cancer while raising a young child, Ella brings lots of laughter and levity to a very scary situation. We talk about the Australian health care system, "auditioning your treatment team, butt hole measurements, and portable chemo treatment."

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a bit of a mystery. The fellas sit down and chat with Cailin about her experience living with the hormone disorder, which is common among women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. Cailin walks us through her experience of growing a beard (at least more beard than Brian could ever grow) when she was a young woman and how her Diabetes may be linked to her struggle with PCOS!

2020 is almost over and Tom Cruise is not a happy camper. The gang discuss mouth-breathers and those pesky French orgy lovers over in Belgium. Then for something far more serious and far more close to home, the boys get a chance to speak to the ever-so-lovely Dr. Cindy Blackstock! She is a member of the Gitksan First Nation with 25 years of social work experience in child protection and Indigenous children’s rights. A hard working woman who has brought on important change to the world of human rights and is showing no signs of letting up. This is a truly fantastic conversation!

Deane is a strapping, young Army engineer living diagnosed with ALS at 30. Given 2-5 years, his diagnosis turned his life upside down. Ever the fighter, Deane started the ALS Burpee Challenge to raise money and is advocating for a Rare Disease Strategy so folks like him can access effective treatment here in Canada instead of having to travel abroad. Still, his treatments overseas did have one benefit- opening his eyes to the wonder of the bidet.

Folks are lining up and getting the prick. This week we start with a charming chime-in from an elderly gent who rang up his local hospital for a shot and a horrible meal. Then the gang talk lab-grown meat and vaccine conspiracy. Vegans please send your hate to Taylor. Then the fellas sit down with Dr. Iris Gorfinkel to talk about the importance of vaccine hesitancy. We are in a wild and exciting time, but we must approach this next chapter with thoughtful questions and push for informed consent.

Tony is a med student who has already spent years working to treat his chronic pain. While his struggles aren’t over, he hopes others who experience chronic pain will keep trying new treatments until they find one that works for them.

Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng is a palliative and intensive care doctor who wants to fix the inefficiencies in healthcare that end up causing harm to patients and costing the system millions! Be sure to check out his podcast, Solving Healthcare with Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng. The gang also talks about the Christmas miracle of COVID-19 vaccines and the decline of the otter dick.

Have you ever had a doctor rely on Google as much as you? Angela has. She has a septate hymen, a rare condition which has complicated her sexual health and relationships. Still, she ain't no wuss and advocated to get her diagnosis.

Dr. James Makokis is a proud, Two-Spirit Cree from Saddle Lake First Nation who leads one of North America’s most prominent transgender-focused medical practices. He shares how he re-connected to his culture, how colonial gender norms erased Indigenous Two-Spirit existence and the lifesaving care he provides to transgender people. Before Dr. Makokis’ beautiful story, the gang talks about sci-fi monkeys, pygmy marmosets and BC Ferries' amazing phallic mask sign.

Dr. Strang is Nova Scotia’s Daddy! Er, Chief Medical Officer of Health. But he feels like our Daddy right now. Join us for this in depth conversation about leading our province through the pandemic, the COVID-19 Alert App and what the vaccine rollout might look like. This episode was recorded on Friday, November 13th following public health protocols.

Welp... Jeremie's mom has COVID. A wake-up call that is close to home as COVID goes into community spread here in Nova Scotia. The gang also discuss how those pesky anti-vaxxers may not be able to go to work if some MPs in the UK have their way. Then the fellas had the pleasure of sitting down with Sanja Stanojevic, a biostatistics expert from Dalhousie University about the jaw dropping study she co-authored about the efficacy of Trikafta. The results are astounding. Could Jeremie potentially have legitimate swimmers in the near future? Time will tell.

Last week was a massive day for the Cystic Fibrosis community. With the announcement of Vertex planning to submit Trikafta to Health Canada for approval there was much to celebrate, but the hard work isn’t done yet! This week we speak with Stephanie Stavros, the first Canadian CF’er who was granted special access to Trikafta as she was laying on death's door. Stephanie has an absolutely wild story of growing up with CF totally in secret. As 30+ some years of a closeted salty girl she saw some serious ups and downs. From spewing blood on a first date to becoming the mother of her own child, her story is incredible.

The gang get a vomit inducing letter from a listener about linguine like wormies filling up their belly and eating all their pizza. Also good news! There’s hope for a vaccine! Get your papers ready if you wanna see any big shows, though. Big Brother is watching you. Then the fellas have a hella enlightening conversation with Dr. Heidi Janz, Professor at the University of Alberta specializing in disability ethics. We talk about MAID and what issues the current legislature present for folks living with disabilities.

Telling stories can change lives, and no one knows this better than André Picard. This week we chat with the big daddy of healthcare journalism. As Canada’s most prominent journalist on the health beat André has been through every major health event in the past few decades. He's been a long time dream guest of ours and we are absolutely honoured that André sat down with us nincompoops to talk about covering healthcare, protecting sources & keeping the powerful accountable.

We kick off this week with a discussion around boners. Boners in bed. Boners in airplanes. Boners at the top of Mt. Everest. The gang also explore how AI can and very likely will play a role in diagnosing humans in ways that we couldn't have even imagined! Then the fellas have a frank conversation with Dr. Zac Seidler, Clinical psychologist and the Director of Mental Health Training at Movember! They chat about the mens mental health crisis, the problems with the term "toxic" masculinity and much more! For more info on Movember and what they are up to check out https://ca.movember.com/