Sickboy - podcast cover

Sickboy

CBC

Sickboy is the only place where terminal diagnoses can peacefully coexist with jokes we probably shouldn't make. Hosted by three best friends, Jeremie, Brian, and Taylor, this show smashes taboos around illness, death, and everything in between. Inspired by Jeremie’s life with Cystic Fibrosis, we dive headfirst into the uncomfortable, the hilarious, and the heartbreaking. We talk to people living with everything from chronic disease to catastrophic injury, mental health struggles to medical miracles - and we do it with radical empathy, zero BS, and the kind of unfiltered jokes that get us kicked out of support groups. If you’ve ever felt weird, broken, or like no one gets it, welcome. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Pull up a seat; it’s gonna get real.


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Episodes

Jeremie Has Pneumonia

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 ...

Mar 25, 20191 hr 22 minEp. 183

Love Extremist: Brain Cancer

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!

Mar 21, 20191 hr 7 minEp. 182

Five Feet Apart w/ Justin Baldoni

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. He...

Mar 11, 201958 minEp. 181

HIV in the Bible Belt

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...

Mar 04, 20191 hr 8 minEp. 180

Care, Race & Redemption w/ Verena Rizg

This week we take a deep dive into the past and present of nurse practitioner Verena Rizg. A conversation that taps into the nuances and complexities of faith vs culture when approaching grief. The boys finally get schooled on the difference between LPN, RN and Nurse practitioner (turns out LPN does not stand for Lower Paid Nurse, sorry dad) and a very much needed dive into how race effects both giving and receiving care.

Feb 25, 20191 hr 20 minEp. 179

How To Grieve w/ Estelle Thomson

This week we sit down with Estelle Thomson. Good friend and Nova Scotia yoga instructor and artist. We spend a solid 10 minutes beating around the bush and awkwardly avoiding the topic at hand... The death of Tommy, Estelle's two year old son. It's a perfect example of how so many of us are effected by the inability to know how to broach the tough subject of death. Estelle is a power house of a woman who has so much to teach the world about life, loss, and how to face the harsh realities of deat...

Feb 18, 20191 hr 17 minEp. 178

Inside Out: Bladder Exstrophy

Christa Angell is not related to Criss Angel but she knows a pretty gnarly magic trick. Like being born with her bladder on the outside of her body! AKA Bladder Exstrophy. We dive into full bladder reconstruction using sections of large intestine, self catheterizing, life long pelvic issues, acupuncture and Ayurvedic practices. But most importantly a full blown ASMR session near the end.

Feb 11, 20191 hr 22 minEp. 177

The Show Must Go On: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aren Morris has spent a career changing the lives of a bunch of snot nosed kids from Sackville. She was basically Jeremie's Robin Williams and he was her Matt Damon. This ex drama teacher/competitive improv coach is moving through life dealing with a crippling case of Rheumatoid Arthrisis. From beautiful physiotherapists to highly aggressive rub & tugs this conversation goes ALL over the map with laughs and love.

Feb 04, 20191 hr 26 minEp. 176

Breast Cancer: What Goes Lump In The Night?

In July of 2017 Molly was newly engaged to her partner of six years and beginning to think about starting a family. One day, out of nowhere, she felt a weird pain in her left breast. She instinctively reached her hand to the site of the pain and felt an obvious lump protruding from her side. Breast Cancer wasn't the first thing to cross her mind... she was only 29... On this week we talk about Molly's experience being diagnosed, her physical treatment, and, even more importantly, Mammalgrams... ...

Jan 28, 20191 hr 8 minEp. 175

Diabetes: It Ain't No Joke.

This week is FULL of laughs, but don't get it wrong. Diabetes is not funny. Kylie joins the fellas in Halifax to drop knowledge on nearly 350 people about what life with diabetes is like. From the adorable sing songs at diabetes camp, to the most expensive liquids in the world, to Brian's Kale addiction, to giving yourself herpes, to shoving dirty needles into boys fingers, we this episode dives deep. Grab some Cineplex popcorn and an extra large coke and enjoy!

Jan 21, 20191 hr 14 minEp. 174

Bloodsick Doctor: Leukaemia

Tanya is your friendly neighbourhood family doc, or at least she was. She's been on leave for a good chunk of time because she's nasty boo boo in her blood. Leukaemia to be specific. This week we learn how cancer doesn't discriminate - doctors get it too! How being a doc can prepare you, in a way, for whats to come with cancer treatment. And we also find out that Brian really needs to deal with that twin brother health card identity fraud ordeal.

Jan 14, 20191 hr 11 minEp. 173

A Life Of Heartbreak - Tetralogy of Fallot

It might sound like a Lord Of The Rings character... however Tetralogy of Fallot is actually a combination of four congenital abnormalities in the heart. Sophie literally started from the bottom, now she here. And by bottom, we mean she was born in literally the worst rated hospital in her home country. A wild journey has brought her to where she is today! An exceptional young women with a funny foreign accent ;) To follow Sophie's story check out her blog: http://Achdandme.blogspot.com

Jan 07, 20191 hr 31 minEp. 172

Loose Joints & Opioids: Ehlers–Danlos

Mylene is like a real life stretch armstrong! Although this may sound like a super power, it most certainly is not. Loose joints may help with flexibility but this is just a small part of life with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. From chronic pain, to insomnia, to jacked up adrenalin levels, the fellas and Mylene dive in deep into life with EDS!

Dec 31, 20181 hr 10 minEp. 171

Real Life Grayscale: Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis

Meet Laura! A part time mad food scientist, story telling, should be rapper living in New York. She lives with a rare genetic skin disorder called genetic skin disorder. Sure her skin is flakey and dry but it goes SO much deeper than just that. Horribly painful, constantly sloughing off, hours upon hours of daily maintenance. This week Laura leads the fellas through the meaning of Spoon Theory, stories of a painful childhood into adulthood, the difference between pain tolerance and threshold and...

Dec 24, 20181 hr 16 minEp. 170

Stump Kitchen: Born An Amputee (Amniotic Band Syndrome)

Alexis was born missing a large portion of her left arm. This didn't stop her from following her dreams of having her own successful YouTube cooking show. Nor did it stop her from doing anything she damn well pleases! Live from SAIT the fellas and Alexis have a giggle filled conversation about disability, naming your limbs, the benefit of having a stump for a kitchen tool, sex, stump biting and more.

Dec 17, 20181 hr 14 minEp. 169

Menopause Chicks

Sh*t happens. And so does menopause! This week the fellas tap back into their female anatomy knowledge with the help of Shirley Weir, the founder of the online community Menopause Chicks. Her goal? Empowering women to navigate perimenopause and menopause with confidence and ease! Did you know that menopause isn’t just for old ladies? Did you know that the ovaries are different than the eggs? Of course you do. You’re not some dodo like Jer-Bear.

Dec 10, 20181 hr 3 minEp. 168

The Heart With A Hole: Heart Failure

How does one live while born with huge hole in their infant heart? When your heart fails how do you survive?! Medical advancements have come a long ass way! The fellas sit down this week with Callie, a west coast gal who has had countless surgeries to fix a broken heart. Not through love loss, just through a congenital heart defect.

Dec 03, 20181 hr 3 minEp. 167

"Finger Nail Cancer Can't Be ""That"" Bad - Stage IV Melanoma "

Unlike Bob Marley, Oliver went through with removing a hunk of one of his cancer ridden digits. Unfortunately that didn't stop the cancer. From fingernail, to lymph and beyond Oliver has the ""Bad"" skin cancer. Was it from a mole? Too much sun? Well, chances are it was hereditary. Oliver is a well spoken dude who continuously drops knowledge on the fellas in this weeks episode.

Nov 26, 20181 hr 7 minEp. 166

Painful Doormat: Provoked Vestibulodynia (Vulva Pain)

""This is going to get really intimate, really fast."" This week we are talking about the vagina! Specifically a painful vagina. Michelle has spent her whole life experiencing an extremely sensitive and painful vulva. From excruciating ""Q-tip tests"", to discomfort from tampons, to the near impossibility of sex, it's been a rough road to recovery. The good news is, PVD can be treated! And spoiler alert - this episode has a happy ending.

Nov 19, 20181 hr 15 minEp. 165

Destiny Of My Disabled Child: PCH2d

What is it like to have a 4 year old living with complex medical issues? Tough as sh*t. But Kaiti is a BAMF Mother! Her beautiful little daughter Layla was once considered a ""Floppy baby"". She is unable to hold her neck up, sit, stand, walk, talk. After a 2.5 year search between Ontario and BC she was accepted to the Undiagnosed Disease Network at UCLA and were able to finally walk away with a diagnosis. She has PCH2d. It's a progressive, life limiting diagnosis. Parenting a first born is neve...

Nov 12, 20181 hr 17 minEp. 164

Piss Like Coca-Cola: PNH

Tracy is not pregnant. She may look pregnant, but she for sure is not. So don't ask her how far along she is. Don't touch her belly and exclaim ""Ohhhh he's gonna be a soccer player"". So why does she look pregnant? Why does her pee look like coca-cola? Why does she need blood thinners or have countless blood transfusions? Because Tracey lives with a rare life threatening disease called Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

Nov 05, 20181 hr 6 minEp. 163

Audrey Parker Dies Today - Medical Assistance In Dying

Audrey Parker is a woman with a plan. With stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to her bones and her brain, she has decided to end the suffering on her own terms. Today, Audrey Parker dies through the service known as MAID (medical assistance in dying) and she is doing it with grace. Audrey is and will forever be one of the most gracious and beautiful guests we've ever had on our show and we are a million times more rich in LIFE for taking some time to talk to her about death.

Nov 01, 20181 hr 22 min

They Found Vegetables In Your Heart?!: Endocarditis

We have landed in Vancouver and kick it off with a doozy of a recording! We chat with Ken about how one day it started with a cough and the next thing you know he's been on dyalisis for 22 months. Kidney failure? Nah. Heart failure. Wait... no Kidney issues for sure. But what about the vegetables in his heart? Er... Vegetation in the heart? All we know is, Ken was all sorts of messed up.

Oct 29, 20181 hrEp. 162

The Fearless Girl's Tit Cancer w/ Bif Naked

Bif Naked is a celebrated and notorious performer in music, TV, film, and dance, and a tireless advocate and Humanitarian. Orphaned in India, emancipated by punk rock, and empowered by surviving breast cancer, kidney failure, heart surgery, divorce, and surviving as a Woman in The Entertainment Industry for twenty-five years, Bif has transcended any and all obstacles placed in her path to become one of the world's most unique, recognizable and beloved icons.

Oct 22, 20181 hr 18 minEp. 161

T-T-T-TODAY JUNIOR: Severe Stutter

Is he beatboxing? Oh... no, he just has a stutter. This week on the podcast we sit down and talk with Matt! He lives with a severe stutter. Matt dives deep into his history with this frustrating speech disorder. A compelling conversation that unpacks the struggles of prolonged sounds & syllables while speaking including a healthy dose of secondary behaviours like physical ticks! We touch on Mario Kart, strategically curating your vocabulary, horribly insensitive teachers, Billy Madison and m...

Oct 15, 20181 hr 4 minEp. 160

Everybody Poops: Ulcerative Colitis

Looking for some Thanksgiving dinner conversation? YOU'VE come to the right place. Colon mucus, bloody stool, the difference between anus, colon and rectum. This week the fellas travel to Toronto for a LIVE recording from Movember Canada and chat with their new poo pal Effie! This shit filled episode dives into her experience in being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. From making brown 25 times a day, to going into remission she's been through the ringer and back!

Oct 08, 20181 hr 30 minEp. 159

My Forgetful Father: Alzheimer's Disease

Jewelia is a kindhearted and thoughtful meditation teacher, who (like all of us) owes half of her genetic makeup to her Dad - a world renowned sports psychologist with Alzheimer's disease. Wait, what?! Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia and memory loss and after that opening statement there's probably a billion questions you might have but perhaps the most puzzling one we had was: how does Jewelia tell her dad that he's sick and have him remember he's sick? Chew on that for a minut...

Oct 01, 20181 hr 10 minEp. 158

Brian's Mom Pees Out Of Her Belly Button: Bladder Cancer

Ever wonder what it's like to pee out of your belly button? Brian's mom never did until she was corralled through a Chinese CT scan factory and realized she may have Bladder Cancer. This week we speak to Marie, Brian's MOM! She's a foul mouthed cutie pie and although she was a bit nervous to speak openly this ended up being one of our favourite episodes of the year. From 16"" catheters to cat buttholes, this episode gets weird.

Sep 24, 20181 hr 37 minEp. 157

Half Naked And Delirious - Chronic Edema & Sepsis

You know what sucks? Cellulitis, Chronic Edema and Varicose Veins. Think about it... Constant swelling in your feet and legs. An inability to pump blood from your extremities. The need to wear cumbersome compression socks. But you know whats sucks even more? A priapism. So, things could always be worse. Our friend and member of PEI's Racoon Bandit, Fraser, pops by to talk about his struggles with Chronic Edema! Stay tuned to the very end to hear a full play through of the Racoon Bandit song, Twi...

Sep 17, 20181 hr 20 minEp. 156

Swallowing 101: Achalasia

Imagine you ate a meal but instead of the food doing what it normally would do (travel through the entire digestive system) it just became stuck within your non working esophagus. As if your body was trying to mimic an emperor penguin by storing food for your baby. Except when you inevitably regurgitate your food, there is no baby penguin to receive it... because your a human woman. This is Kelsey's life. She suffers from Achalasia.

Sep 10, 20181 hrEp. 155
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