Sickboy

This week Brian and Jeremie sit down with Meredith. She is pursuing her Master’s at MSVU in Dietetics and her research revolves around weight bias in healthcare. We touch on the BS of BMI, set weight, intuitive eating and more. More importantly we touch the biases that fat people face in the healthcare system. To quote Meredith, ""I can argue until I am blue in the face that fat people can be healthy (which they can!), but sometimes talking about health masks the real issue, which is that people of all sizes deserve respect and fair treatment, regardless of their health status."" This is is a conversation made to make you think, but what we hope everyone takes from this one is that language and compassion are everything! For more info check out Merediths blog post over at www.sickboypodcast.com/blog

This week on Sickboy, the guys sit down with Ellie to talk about epilepsy and brain surgeries! They get to the heart of what everybody is wondering: when someone is having a seizure, do you or don't you stick something in their mouth?! And also, is it sadder when an animal is epileptic or a human? Ellie thoughtfully explains the intricacies of brain surgery and neuropsychology assessments and the boys are one step closer to getting their honourary medical degrees!

This week we have something extra special. We sat down with Dina, a palliative care social worker from Montreal, to discuss the gaps in the Canadian health care system. We talk about those who financially fall through the cracks when they or a loved one becomes sick, how the federal government can do better to support those who are vulnerable and steps you can take to feel safe and secure if sh*t hits the fan! HUGE thank you to MP's Andy Filmore, Darren Fisher and Geoff Regan and to Bionova Executive Director, Scott Moffitt, for sitting in on this important conversation!

Brian, Jer and intern Lauren sit down to discuss the hot topic that is Coronavirus 2020. From the facts to misinformation to the panic induced xenophobia and racism being spread just as fast as the virus. If you take anything from this episode: Wash your hands and don't let children sneeze into your mouth.

"We have a new member with us here at Sickboy Podcast! Our homegirl Lauren who has never gotten sick once... ever. *EYEROLL* But she did bust her face wide open falling down a flight of stairs so that's a start. We also talk about topics of the utmost importance in the world of medicine. Hair growing out of eyeballs, a doctor who syphoned pee-pee out of a grown man's penis on a flight (not a kink), and Canada's latest attempt to understand how MAID should be implemented! "

Adam was your average hard-working good ol' Nova Scotia boy who grew up in the country and worked heavy machinery. Until one day a small yet unfortunate fall led to a spinal injury that forever changed his life. Chronic pain, 12-hour vomiting fits, internal organ problems, major corrective surgery. Adam has been through hell and back. And although his life will never be the same, he's found solace in his sweet little piggies. We dare you to tune in to this episode and not fall deeply in love with this man.

This week we sit down and chat with KP about their experience with abortion. No matter how many times the topic is covered it still manages to hurt our uterus'. But that phantom pain is NOTHING compared to the sh*t KP faced. We dive deep into next level abortion complications, being gay as a form of birth control (use protection folks), identity issues faced with non-binary people seeking help from the ""women's clinic"", and all the goodies in a post-abortion gift bag!

Recorded LIVE from the 2019 Bioport Conference at Pier 21 in Downtown Halifax, the fellas sit down with world champion paralympic swimmer Andrew Haley. As a child, Andrew had cancer twice and each time was given a 35% chance to pull through. Although he lost part of his right leg, he never lost his fight. Despite the long odds he fought and won and has used that same fight all his life. Andrew truly believes that anything is possible and shows audiences that with a lot of hard work and determination you can own your destiny.

What is a pelvic floor? What is a kegal? Why would anyone want to have an internal vaginal or rectal exam to explore what is happening with the muscular system within your pelvis? Well, you are about to find out! Stephanie Brown is a pelvic floor physiotherapist and her whole career has been dedicated to treating patients with all manner of issues related to that special area. 5 key functions of the pelvic floor include sphincter control, organ support, core stability, sexual function and blood/lymph flow. Get ready for a hardcore anatomy lesson with someone who knows the inside of vagina's and butt holes very well.

Have you ever thought about what palliative healthcare or end of life care looks like for someone who is homeless? This is Dr. Dosani's life's work. Naheed Dosani is a palliative care physician and the lead behind Palliative Education And Care for the Homeless (PEACH). The Toronto based physician sits down with the fellas to share some hella important stories. Destigmatizing stereotypes that are very real within the medical community. The importance and beauty of relationship-centred care. Perspective on what dying on the street is can be like for some. This episode is essential. What is a life worth? Listen with your ears and hearts wide open.

Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia. Clearly a mouthful for Jeremie. This week we sit down in front of a full house at the Dalhousie Medical School to hear all about Bridgett's experience with her struggles with her own mental health. Derealization and Depersonalization sound way worser than a bad trip in the woods. Always planning for the best exit on the highway sounds maddening. Flying?! Out of the picture - unless it's a seat at the back, a Boeing 737 or Airbus 320 and include a full bar of Xanax. But on the bright side, meditation has been a game-changer.

Ischemic Stroke folks. Say it all together now - ISCHEMIC. This week Sarah Jane tells us all about her brain blood clot that caused her to have a full-blown stroke. What does one do to fix this? Welp... the docs removed a flap out of her skull, stuck it in a freezer and proceeded to tinker on her thinker. After an extended period of time in a Coma, Sarah Jane woke and had a long rough road to recovery. TO top it all off, we might as well throw in a healthy dose of Ulcerative Colitis! With a new sexy raspy voice and a new lease on life this charming Newfoundlander is living her best life and brings the laughs in Sickboy's very first House Show on the road!

Jeremie is finally out of the hospital and gives us a full recap of how his lungs decided to crap out on him while on a small vacation down in Boston. From terrifying his young nurse to full-on anxiety attacks to the nasty sounds of Picc lines there are tons of things to dig into. Then the fellas have a very real and very important conversation with Kim Steele -director of government and community relations from CF Canada - about Trikafta, a new disease-modifying therapy that treats the most common CF genetic mutation. This life-changing med exists, but to get it in the hands of Canadians who need it is a challenge, to say the least.

Ever heard of Lipodystrophy? If the answer is no, we aren't surprised. It is a VERY rare disorder. Lipodystrophy refers to a medical problem where there is an abnormal distribution of fat in the body. Doesn't sound like a huge deal, but trust, it's no walk in the park. As our guest this week, Sonia, puts it ""You're about to open pandora's box"". We learn how this bizarre disorder comes with a ton of comorbidities - liver failure, heart failure and beyond. A disorder so intense that it took both Sonia's mother and sister's life. Sonia is still kicking though and killing it!

The boys are hungover and Jeremie has completely lost his voice (and is likely at the beginning of developing the nasty pneumonia that took him out a couple of weeks ago.) But that won't stop them from shooting the shit with their new friend Kae about life with Muscular Dystrophy. From owning your illness to the lack of accessibility we deeply explore what life is like for a young woman who is progressively losing her physical independence and living life to the fullest while she's at it!

Remember Adam? He was on the show back in May. He had no pulse. He had a machine pumping blood through his body. He needed a heart....bad. This week he's back, live from Calgary, Alberta...and he's got a brand new heart! Let's talk about it. Adam is a top Canadian comedian. Visit his website at adamdelorey.com

This week on Sickboy, the guys sit down with New York Times bestselling author, Neil Pasricha, to chat about life, positivity, perspective and RESILIENCE. From Neil, ""We are lucky. For most of us, famine, plague, economic depression, and other life-threatening catastrophes are the stuff of history books. We’re living in an era with the highest-ever rates of longevity, education, and wealth. Cars drive us home as our phones entertain us before we arrive to food delivered to the front door. We have it all! But there’s just one side effect. We no longer have the tools to handle failure...or even perceived failure. When we fall, we lie on the sidewalk crying. When we spill, we splatter. When we crack, we shatter. We are turning into an army of porcelain dolls. A rude email from the boss means calling in sick. Only two likes on our post means we don’t have friends. Cell phones show us we’re never good enough. Yesterday’s butterflies are tomorrow’s panic attacks. Record numbers of students have clinical anxiety. And what about depression, loneliness, and suicide? All rising! What do we desperately need to learn? RESILIENCE. And we need to learn it fast."" We explore this and many other ideas in this incredibly thoughtful and eye-opening conversation with our new best friend, Neil Pasricha. Pre-order You Are Awesome on Amazon today: https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Awesome-Navigate-Intentional/dp/1982135883 Neil's website: https://www.neil.blog/

This week on Sickboy we sit down with Stormy in front of a live audience at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver! If you've ever been wondering what Jenga, Starbucks, and brain bleeds have in common, than this is the conversation you've been waiting for! We dive into the challenges of living with seizures and a serious connective tissue disorder, all while trying to keep Stormy from turning into a total bro. Did we succeed? You decide.

This week we cap off our Vancouver studio recordings with a very special guest. Anonymous Poet and New York Times best selling author Atticus. We spend an hour talking about tapping into our creative side as a form of therapy. The shift in views on male vulnerability. Social media's effect on society and much more! Check out Atticus' new book The Truth About Magic on sale now. https://www.atticuspoetry.com/

Meaghan's life has been consumed by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Wracked with anxiety her life has been a rollercoaster to say the least! Sitting down with a few dumb dumbs from Halifax on a podcast for tens of thousands doesn't help. Whenever she ""screws up"" she must ""reset"". From throwing out all of her belongings to deleting her email address and starting a new one to avoiding social situations and dating her illness is a massive mountain to climb. Meaghan was admitted at an OCD clinic (at the same hospital as seen on Girl Interrupted) where her OCD scored a 40/40 in terms of severity. Yikes.

We've landed in Vancouver and we learn all about the world of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 with Alison! A curious little genetic disease full of fascinating symptoms. Babies with swollen tongues and oversized heads. Coffee stained skin. Bulging/blind eyes. Shrinking brain tumours. Alison has been through it all! But it doesn't keep her from having a radical sense of humour!

Ankylosing Spondylitis set Katie on a life path that she never would have imagined. She developed her arthritis at 19. Something that a lot of us may not realize but, young people get arthritis and it can be super serious shit. This week we learn about the adventures of an archeologist, that arthritis is like... 100 different types of illnesses, how to turn a crying baby off (spoiler alert, it has to do with warm milk straight from the source) and how diet can seriously change a person's life.

A hurricane blew away our abilities to publish an episode for a few days but now that life is getting back to normal let's dive into a hypochondriac inducing, hella confusing, mega-complex diagnosis. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is an absolute shit show. And that doesn't even begin to describe how tough it was for Angela to get diagnosed! Finish off your storm chip rations and put on your thinking caps. This week is a doozy.

#basicbrian. Be sure to include the hashtag on your insta story. THIS WEEK we go deep into the world of depression and anxiety with our new friend Heather. Having a baby is a lot. Having a baby and sinking deep into the depths of postpartum is a lot more. Heather has struggled for years and had a few close calls with attempts of taking her own life. Thankfully she's still with us and is making a difference within her community by spreading awareness and tearing down stigma around mental health!

This week starts off a bit weird. With a guest who last-minute pulled out the boys are left to their own devices. Pedo doctors, car accidents, nasty facial growths, an escaped convict from a psychiatric hospital. Things borderline get out of hand. Thankfully we shift gears with a phone call from our homie Jamie Keeping! She just got a new set of Pipes and her lung function is on the up and up!

Adrian was on the podcast before. We spent most of the time talking about how we're all just flesh-covered, walking, talking donuts. Adrian had Chron's. Or Colitis? Or both? We aren't super sure. But he definitely had one... but was then told he had another... but none of that mattered because he now had to deal with his failing liver. Oh and not only him but his Twin brother, Devin, was going through the exact same thing. Might as well get him on the phone and see what's up in his world too!

Maggy was born with no esophagus. After undergoing 5 major surgeries she was able to finally live a somewhat normal life... except for the fact that, now, she pukes in her lungs if she eats too much! And if that didn't sound gnarly enough she also caught hepatitis c from a contaminated blood supply, the hospital only contacted her family 13 years later to inform them of this f---k up. So by now you're probably thinking this is some crazy shit, but believe us this is only the beginning. What do you do when one of your parents doesn't accept your illness? How do you afford your treatment, get access to the help you need, and make it on your own? Is looking for a caregiver on doyoulookgood.com really a practical solution? All of this and more on this week's episode of Sickboy.

Dylan is your typical punk band drum player. Covered in tattoos, drives a motorcycle, has a full set of false teeth... wait, what?! While rocking out as a teenager Dylan began feeling the gnarliest of pains in his jaw. After some tooth extraction and a quick biopsy, the docs find a hardcore tumour growing on the inside of Dylan's face. So what does one do? Radiate that f*cker out! Unfortunately, this rotted out every single tooth in his head.

WOWEE, it's our 200th episode - and to celebrate, we're catching up with a few of our past guests! Over the past 4 years we've had the pleasure of meeting some incredible individuals whose stories have profoundly impacted our lives. We often find ourselves wondering how they're continuing to manage the challenges they face or if they've achieved the goals that they've set. If you've been wondering the same thing, than you're in for a treat because we've set out to answer some of those questions! As always we couldn't do this without the support of our Patreon members, if you want to join our exclusive club head over to the Sickboy Patreon page!

Asbestos is no joke. Just ask Laurel. Somehow, somewhere in her life she was exposed to Asbestos in a large enough quantity that it was likely the driving force behind her diagnosis os Mesothelioma! What the frick is Mesothelioma you ask? It's a very rare form of cancer that can affect the lungs and the lining of the stomach. Unfortunately Laurel is stage 4 and there isn't much the doc's can do for her (even the world famous Sugarbaker technique wouldn't do the trick) but that doesn't stop Laurel from taking life by the balls and living out ever last moment!

When David was 12 years old he grew up very quickly. Trauma can do that to an individual. And boy oh boy David is no stranger to trauma. Over the span of only several years his father, his older brother and his mother all died leaving him with no family. But David didn't let these circumstances get the best of him. ""Shaped by our past, defined by our decisions"" - Words that are tattooed on his mindset. David has taken his life story and is using it to cultivate change in others. Now working as a life coach and grief counsellor David is making the most out of the cards he's been dealt. If you'd like to reach out to David you can find his work here - Www.peak.ca Www.nadirexperiences.ca Email address: [email protected]

Abigail has been an OG Sickboy listener from day one. But now it's time to share her own story. A story that begins with anxiety from the human chaos that was Magic Mountain, and brings us to today where the story hasn't quite reached it's ending. Abigail suffers from Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED). This week we dive into a childhood of mental health issues, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, Shrink's and meds! Sit back and enjoy and we dare you not to giggle at the sound of a little snork or two throughout the episode!

Zachary was born with Umbilical Cord Syndrom. He also happens to be an elite para-athlete in the sport of Sprint Kayak! Oh, and he also identifies as queer. At 20 years old Zach is searching for an identity. Can one be gay AND a high-performance athlete? What does it mean when you throw a life long disability into the mix? This week we go deep into the life of para-athletics, one mans queer identity and the sacrifices that are made when sport trumps your ability to express yourself fully!

A couple of years ago Ashley woke up in her home in Inuvik (way the heck up north) with what felt like ""dry eye"" although she was also unable to see out of half of her left eye. Turns out it was absolutely not dry eye. It was ocular melanoma — a rare form of cancer. From needles into the eyeball to radiated watch batteries being surgically implanted into your head, to potential eye enucleation! This episode will make you stop taking those wet colourful head balls for granted.

Amy went through something that many women across Canada (and the world) experience. Stillbirth. This week we dive deep into the taboo subject matter of giving birth to a dead human. Bryde from Turn Me On podcast fills in for Tay and helps us navigate the world of women's health, reproductive health, abortion, stillbirth, endo and more. Sounds heavy, but Amy was a spectacular guest who in true Sickboy fashion knew how to roll with the punches.

Last week Taylor was seriously injured when he was struck by a car while riding nearly 50km per hour on his road bike. The fellas get together by Tays bedside to talk about the traumatic incident. From bouncing off windshields like a basketball to a mysterious theft of $400 glasses to lacerated internal organs. Taylor is extremely lucky to be alive and our baby boy has a long road to recovery.

Live from Edmonton, Alberta, the guys sit down with Jared, a Death Investigator with an aversion to throwing up. Jared is one of 6 Death Investigators covering thousands of square kilometres of Alberta cities and townships. He and his team are responsible for assessing all deaths that happen outside of the hospital and determine whether they might be suspicious... and if you're thinking that that sounds like a busy or daunting task, than consider this: on Jared's busiest weekend he's been to 35 different deaths (also, spoiler alert - Jared's weekend is the same for everyone else, Friday to Sunday... yeah, duh Jared). If this doesn't sound crazy enough, imagine what it would be like to be around all of these decaying bodies when you constantly are worried that you're going to throw up. Well, Jared hates spewing chunks so much so that he literally has what's known as hypochondriacs disorder... so, let's talk about it!

Live from the Atlantic Podcast Summit - the fellas sit down with Comedian and meditation facilitator Josh Dunn! Josh lives with Cerebral Palsy and gets around on a sick set of sticks. We dive into accessibility issues, disability discrimination, performing stand up comedy as a disabled person, Jeremie's phobia of horses, and the fact that Josh also dealt with a long and scary bout of psychosis! So grab a drink, sit down and join us for a good time!

Adam Delorey - the man who tells jokes with a broken heart. Literally. The man went into full heart failure at the age of 13 when his ejection fraction (heart function) was at 11%! Since then he's lived a somewhat normal life, although knew that one day he'd need a full heart transplant. Fast forward to today Adam is a touring stand up comedian wearing a machine (LVAD) on the outside of his body that keeps his failing heart ticking until he can go through with the transplant! From not having a pulse, to popping viagra, to including every last name he's ever known this week is full of the laughs! Adam's debut album Heartless is available for pre-sale on iTunes today! Visit his website at adamdelorey.com

It's been one year since one of our best friends died. Time flies. We miss you, buddy. Take a listen to why and how we fell in love with this beautiful gentleman.

Kenzie Brenna is an actor, creator, influencer and mental health advocate. This week she joins Jer and Bri in the beautiful city of Toronto to discuss all things mental health! After all, it is Mental Health Week! We take a deep dive into Kenzie's past and current struggles with an eating disorder. From being convinced that all of her food was being secretly poisoned, to committing self-harm we talk about the ways that Kenzies mental health spiralled for the worse. We also discuss how she wished the people in her life could have been there for her! This weeks episode is also meant to spread awareness about the new mental health resource initiative launched by Jack.org called Be There. Just talking about mental health isn’t enough. We need the knowledge, skills and confidence to step up and be there for one another and this is where Be There comes into play. For more information head on over to bethere.org now.

Ever see those videos on YouTube where a colourblind person gets those cool glasses that allow them to see colour for the very first time? Well, Melissa is like that, only with hearing! Since a child she was deaf in her left ear, until very recently when she went balls to the wall and bought the Lamborghini of hearing aids. This thing not only allows her to hear, but she can also take calls and listen to Sickboy Podcast from it! The future is kick ass!

This week is what the kids would refer to as Gnar Gnar. We sit down with Ashleigh to talk about her traumatic experience of giving birth to her second child. She suffers ""3rd world country type injuries"" due to several complications. We're talking about things like gestational diabetes pumping sugars into the baby to create an unborn Hodor. A baby with a broken shoulder from birth. A pelvic organ prolapse (specifically a bowel and a bladder prolapsing into Ashleigh's vagina) and more. Jeremie could barely hold it together, so if you already are squeamish with birth stuff, good luck. Massive shoutout to Ashleigh for being a powerhouse and holding down the fort.

Chris Muise might sound like a cool country rock star. But no, he's a reporter living with a hella rare disease. This episode is chalk full of big words. Vasculitis! Aosinophils! Wrestlemania! Chris lives with a variation of a disease that only effects 1 in 6,000,000. Take a moment and read that again. Childhood Churg Straus Syndrome comes in stages and each one is as awful as the next. Buckle up for a wild story heartwarming story of a wandering billionaire making dreams come true near the end of the episode!

Meet Lainie! Three years ago she found a small bald spot on her head. Since that date, she has lost every single hair on her head cyclically at least twice! This week we take a deep dive into the world of Alopecia! Lainie gives us the rundown on life as a balding woman and the wild treatments in order to deal with her situation. Rogaine anyone? Who is the newfie Jew? The MADMAX look is so in right now. Also is it a wig? Or is that her hair? Brian makes a shocking discovery.

What consists of a good death? According to Caitlin Doughty, It is staring down your death fears—whether it be your own death, the death of those you love, the pain of dying, the afterlife (or lack thereof), grief, corpses, bodily decomposition, or all of the above. Accepting that death itself is natural, but the death anxiety of modern culture is not. Caitlin is a mortician, activist, and funeral industry rabble-rouser. We dive deep into the different ways in which the world deals with death. From raking hot bones out of an oven to vultures ceremoniously eating human remains to wrapping bodies in a shroud and burying it three feet under the earth, there are many options for us to plan our death. This episode is not to be missed!

This week we come to you from Jeremie's ultra slick looking private hospital room! Everyone's favourite Sickboy host (obviously) was rushed to the ER after doing his best ""death in a Quinten Tarantino film"" impression by spewing movie FX amounts of blood out of his mouth with every cough. Don't worry, he's okay! Plus it gave us an opportunity to sit down and talk about the latest in weird and wild health news! From cures to HIV, to dudes eating their own body parts, to horrifyingly disgusting hospital food and beyond!

There is much to be done about hate extremism in the world today. But what can we do about Love Extremism? Ethan Lipsitz is on a mission to spread more love. Especially after his experience with brain cancer. What started as a terrifying seizure in his bed one night quickly turned into a scenario where he and his healthcare team needed to race against the clock to remove as much of a tumour as they could. Buckle up for a wild story and some extreme love!

The sun is always shining in beautiful LA, but it seems to shine even brighter at Justin Baldoni’s house. This week we sit down with easily one of the most genuine and charming humans we’ve ever met. Justin is an American actor, director and filmmaker. His latest film ‘Five Feet Apart’ is about to put Cystic Fibrosis on the motha f***in’ MAP! This beautiful and endearing film tells the story of Seventeen-year-old Stella who spends most of her time in the hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control -- all of which get put to the test when she meets Will, an impossibly charming teen who has the same illness. This week we talk about the process of creating a film that will simultaneously speak to the masses and the cystic fibrosis community, The power of vulnerability, Being the most true and authentic version of yourself, and more. Huge shout out to our supporters on Patreon for this conversation wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for you.

When Derric came out to his Dad, his father disapprovingly told him that he was going to get AIDS. Derric grew up in the Bible Belt, West Virginia, where in a lot of places being gay is still unaccepted. So a couple years later, when Derric tested positive for HIV, he was devastated. Opening up about his diagnosis was extremely challenging and within a short amount of time he moved west to be in a more accepting and supportive community. Derric's story is incredibly important because living with HIV and being gay is still wracked with stigma, which makes it hard for Derric to talk about it. By sharing his story he hopes that people living with similar challenges feel less alone and we know that this will resonate deeply with a lot of our listeners. Thank you, Derric for being vulnerable and open with us, you're a beautiful human being!