162 episodes

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.

Doctor Vs Comedian Doctor Vs Comedian

    • Health & Fitness
    • 5.0 • 1 Rating

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.

    Episode 160: David Chang / Body Dysmorphic Disorder

    Episode 160: David Chang / Body Dysmorphic Disorder

    Today, Asif and Ali discuss celebrity chef David Chang (1:23). They discuss his early life and the fact that he was a child prodigy golfer. They chat about his university life and his early jobs he had prior to beginning culinary studies. They talk about his restaurant succeed and his TV and podcasting ventures. The guys then discuss the closure of many of David Chang’s restaurants and the recent controversy regarding his ‘chili crunch’ condiment… and they also discuss the issue of cultural appropriation of food. 
     
    Then they discuss body dysmorphic disorder (33:28). Asif describes what it is, how common it is and how it is often underdiagnosed. He discusses how it is treated and then the guys discuss a news story about how a Quebec man cut off two healthy fingers as part of a slightly different condition, body identity dysphoria. 

    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:

    Don’t Tell David Chang He’s a Korean Chef: https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-276B-297


    David Chang’s Latest Momofuku Closure Marks the End of an Era: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/david-chang-momofuku-ko-closing-explained


    The Real End of David Chang’s Momofuku Ko Happened Years Ago: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/28/dining/momofuku-ko-closing.html


    After community backlash, celeb chef David Chang will no longer enforce 'chili crunch' trademark: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/chili-crunch-momofuku-trademark-1.7171381


    Portland Burrito Spot Shutters Amid Claims of Cultural Appropriation: https://pdx.eater.com/2017/5/22/15677760/portland-kooks-burrito-cultural-appropriation


    Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Clinical Overview and Relationship to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: https://focus.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.focus.20210012


    Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Reflections on the last 25 years: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1359104520984818


    Understanding and treating body dysmorphic disorder: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6343413/


    Quebec man has two healthy fingers amputated to relieve 'body integrity dysphoria': https://nationalpost.com/news/quebec-amputation-body-integrity-dysphoria


    The Girl Who Wants to Get Rid of Her Left Leg—Body Identity Dysphoria: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10340271/

    Episode 159: Pete Davidson / Crohn’s Disease

    Episode 159: Pete Davidson / Crohn’s Disease

    Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of comedian Pete Davidson. After Asif does some bad stand up, they discuss the early life of Pete Davidson, including how his life changed when his father died in 9/11. They talk about how he found comedy and his struggles with drug use and borderline personality disorder. Ali then mentions how Pete got cast on Saturday Night Live, becoming one of the youngest cast members in the show’s history and his character ‘Chad”. They guys then discuss his post SNL career including “The King of Staten Island”. Ali then reviews all the numerous tabloid relationships of Davidson.  Asif then asks Ali about Pete Davidson’s comedy style in general and his recent Netflix Stand up special “Turbo Fonzerelli”. Asif then talks about some of the common complications including fistulae and bowel obstruction. 
     
    Then, since Pete Davidson suffers from Crohn’s disease, in the second half of the episode, they discuss this disorder. Asif starts off by discussing the somewhat controversial origin of the name of the disease, what exactly it is and the main symptoms. He then talks about what we think causes it and how common it is. He then goes over how it is treated. 
     
    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:

    Pete Davidson Nuzzles Up to the Prickly Joke: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/arts/television/pete-davidson-nuzzles-up-to-the-prickly-joke.html


    Every Chad Ever: Part 1 - SNL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuzGs8SfXBo


    Why Emmy Nominee Steve Buscemi Refuses to ‘Fix’ His Teeth: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-emmy-nominee-steve-buscemi-210783/

    Chron Disease: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/172940-overview?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHK09-LW6otllGtFiiuwTaSKDP4DuuG9Qaxrt2xjhIapViOqCFmRkR4aAjzXEALw_wcB
    https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/
    https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org

    • 43 min
    Episode 158: Christina Applegate / Multiple Sclerosis

    Episode 158: Christina Applegate / Multiple Sclerosis

    Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of actor Christina Applegate. They discuss her early life, child acting as well as being propelled to stardom in ‘Married with Children’. They then  discuss her subsequent career in both TV and movies. After a brief digression on Ali’s Canadian Screen Actors Nominations, they discuss Applegate’s role in Anchorman. After discussion some of her other projects they discuss her amazing performance in “Dead to Me’. Christina is both a breast cancer survivor and in 2021 announced that she was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). In the second half of the episode, Ali asks Asif about MS; Asif starts off by talking about what MS is and the presumed cause. In particular, he goes into detail regarding how geography and vitamin D levels influence your risk of getting MS. Asif talks about the common symptoms of an MS attack as well as how it is diagnosed. He then goes over the treatment and prognosis of 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:

    40×40 Wake Up, Ron Burgundy! (2004): https://latereviewer.com/2023/02/03/40x40-wake-up-ron-burgundy-2004/


    Christina Applegate Cancer-Free After Double Mastectomy: https://people.com/celebrity/christina-applegate-cancer-free-after-double-mastectomy/


    Christina Applegate, Jamie Lynn Sigler open up about MS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sh7TAtnxKM


    Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler are 'good anxious' about new podcast where they open up about MS: https://ew.com/christina-applegate-and-jamie-lynn-sigler-are-good-anxious-about-new-podcast-open-up-about-ms-8607336


    Christina Applegate says she has 30 lesions on her brain amid MS battle: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/03/27/christina-applegate-lessons-brain-multiple-sclerosis/73117652007


    Christina Applegate Pours One Out for ‘Dead to Me’: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/01/arts/television/christina-applegate-dead-to-me.html


    MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messy-with-christina-applegate-jamie-lynn-sigler/id1734318382


    Incidence and prevalence of MS in children: https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000006395

    Multiple Sclerosis: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1146199-overview?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwt-OwBhBnEiwAgwzrUlUCTBWiHIACJiuakOYErhZXSpfTOS-R1DSiANW6MfW1SBEnD2j3IRoCj9EQAvD_BwE

    • 49 min
    Episode 157: George St. Pierre / Ulcerative Colitis

    Episode 157: George St. Pierre / Ulcerative Colitis

    Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of mixed-martial artist Georges St. Pierre. They discuss his early life in Saint-Isidore Quebec and how he was a victim of bullying as a child which later led him to martial arts. They then go over some trivia about Georges St. Pierre, including his wrestling training, his love of Jean Claude Van Damme and his role as a villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They also talk about his history with OCD, anxiety and depression. They discuss GSP’s MMA career and the “greasing controversy” in his match with B.J. Penn. They then discuss his overall legacy in MMA as well as his charity, the GSP Foundation. 
     
    Georges St. Pierre retired due to ulcerative colitis (UC) and in the second half of the episode, the guys discuss this disorder. Asif explains how it is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and how it differs from Chron’s disease. He talks about the causes, how common it is, as well as the common symptoms. Asif then explains how it is diagnosed and how it is treated. Specifically he discusses the role of probiotics and intermittent fasting (which Georges St. Pierre uses). 
     
    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 Mind of GSP: https://tv.apple.com/ca/movie/the-mind-of-gsp/umc.cmc.q7ffputlhw5uqu7t9pehh6ec
    Hunter Collins: Van Damme: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-e&q=hunter+collins+van+damme#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:9af849a6,vid:yfctQ0IXiys,st:0

    Georges St-Pierre opens up on health condition that led to retirement: 'I thought maybe I had cancer': https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/03/george-st-pierre-heath-condition-led-to-retirement-cancer-ulcerative-colitis

    Ulcerative Colitis: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/183084-overview#a4

    Can Intermittent Fasting Help with Inflammatory Bowel Disease? https://www.ibdcentrebc.ca/2021/07/intermittent-fasting-on-ibd/


    A review of the role of intermittent fasting in the management of inflammatory bowel disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10240551/

    • 46 min
    Episode 156: Just for Laughs / Medical Tourism

    Episode 156: Just for Laughs / Medical Tourism

    At the beginning of today’s episode the guys talk about their Oscar picks from last month and what they got right and wrong. They also talk about the claims of plagiarism regarding the screenplay for “The Holdovers”.  Then, Asif asks Ali about the Just for Laughs festival (4:40). Ali starts off by talking about the history of the festival and his personal relation to it from growing up in Montreal. He talks about its significance to comedians in general and his career in particular. He then talks about the recent financial troubles of Just for Laughs, including the fact that this year’s festival has been canceled. Then Ali asks Asif about the phenomenon of medical tourism (25:24). Asif talks about what it is, how often people go abroad for medical treatment as well as the reasons why medical tourism has been increasing of late. He then goes over some of the risks of medical tourism including a recent report of patients who developed a fatal fungal infection after traveling to Mexico for cosmetic surgery.

    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:

    Alexander Payne’s ‘The Holdovers’ Accused of Plagiarism by ‘Luca’ Writer (EXCLUSIVE): https://variety.com/2024/film/news/the-holdovers-accused-plagiarism-luca-writer-1235935605/


    Just for Laughs: A timeline: https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/just-for-laughs-a-timeline


    2024 Just for Laughs comedy festival cancelled, company seeks creditor protection: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/juste-pour-rire-2024-festival-1.7134047

    Just for Laughs Gags: https://www.hahaha.com/en/videos-categories/gags

    Gilbert Rozon faces new allegations of sexual assault: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/gilbert-rozon-faces-new-allegations-of-sexual-assault-1.6109707


    Despite the pandemic and inflation, the medical tourism industry is booming. Here's why: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/07/03/despite-the-pandemic-and-inflation-medical-tourism-is-booming.html

    Leaving Canada for Medical Care, 2017: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/leaving-canada-for-medical-care-2017.pdf

    What Do We Know About Medical Tourism? A Review of the Literature With Discussion of Its Implications for the UK National Health Service as an Example of a Public Health Care System: https://academic.oup.com/jtm/article/21/6/410/1843042


    Neurovascular Complications of Iatrogenic Fusarium solani Meningitis: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2308192


    They came to clinics in Mexico for cosmetic surgery and got a deadly fungal meningitis: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/02/22/1232959262/medical-tourism-cosmetic-surgery-fungal-meningitis-clinics-mexico

    • 47 min
    Episode 155: Dan St. Germain on Comedy, Wrestling and Addiction

    Episode 155: Dan St. Germain on Comedy, Wrestling and Addiction

    WARNING: Explicit Language in this episode
     
    Today, Ali and Asif interview comedian and writer Dan St. Germain, coinciding with the release of his new YouTube special “Dance Fatty Dance”. Dan talks about starting off in stand up and using social media in comedy as well as his hatred of Zoom comedy. Ali asks Dan about the Just of Laughs festival and its recent financial issues.  Dan then talks about the development of his comedic cartoon with Dan Soder and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. Asif and Dan then engage in some wrestling talk and discuss the recent resurgence in pro wrestling, the return of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Wrestlemania and the similarities between wrestling and comedy. Al and Asif then transition to talking to Dan about some medical issues that he brings up in his special. Ali starts off by asking Dan about his history with alcohol and how the comedy lifestyle may perpetuate addiction issues. The talk about Dan doing the roast of Ric Flair, the reception to his jokes, and how Dan relapsed that night. Dan mentions in his stand up that Dan’s dad had encephalitis, so Asif goes into a bit of detail about this disease. They wrap up by discussing cerebral palsy which relates to one of his jokes from his special. 
     
    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:
    Dan St. Germain: Dance Fatty Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWafzY7HERs&t=3s

    • 57 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
1 Rating

1 Rating

Top Podcasts In Health & Fitness

Lääkärilehti Podcast
Lääkärilehti
Psykopodiaa-podcast
Nina Lyytinen
Huberman Lab
Scicomm Media
Väkevä elämä - Viisaampi mieli, vahvempi keho
Joni Jaakkola
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
iHeartPodcasts
Selvin päin
Podimo

You Might Also Like

Because News
CBC
We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast
Apostrophe Podcast Network
Discovery
BBC World Service
The Current
CBC
As It Happens
CBC
The Secret Life of Canada
CBC