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

Lupus Chick - Finding Life's Purpose Through Illness

What's worse than getting hit by a truck? Finding out you have lupus while you're recovering from being hit by a truck. Over 20 years ago Marisa's life was flipped upside down with a diagnosis that led her down a path to finding her true purpose in life. This week, we dive into the world of lupus, a disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Marisa chats with the fellas all about her decades-long battle with lupus and what inspired her to create Lupus...

Sep 20, 202152 minEp. 309

Monkeys Have Endometriosis Too! - Feel Good Friday

We finally put to bed this whole discussion on how the throat knows. The epiglottis is a hell of a thing. Always remember: don't panic. Endometriosis effects roughly 10% of women and has been hard to properly and fully treat. A new genetic discovery could change that. Spoiler alert, it involves rhesus macaques! There is a cafe in Japan that serves you your lattes via a cute and fuzzy bear paw. Scientists are potty training cows. And a man ate so much licorice he friggin died. This and much more ...

Sep 17, 20211 hr 9 min

Routine Checkup: A Womb In The Shape Of A Heart (Miscarriages Still Suck)

This weeks we bring you a very special Routine Checkup. We are joined by past Sickboy guest Joanne! Last time we spoke to her (we were recording out of Brian's mom's basement), we touched on how tough her two miscarriages were. Since then she's had a child and three more miscarriages!? Not only that but she's also written a book about her experiences of miscarriages and motherhood! A very special conversation and we're so grateful to get moments like this to catch up with such lovely humans! You...

Sep 15, 202144 min

Probing Particularly Peculiar Pelvic Pain: Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Here's a not so fun fact — approximately one third of all women will suffer from chronic pelvic pain at some point during their lifetime. So what is pelvic congestion syndrome? Well essentially it boils down to vein dilation down in the nether regions. Zuzanna takes us on her lengthy journey of trying to get to the bottom of where this pain in her (front) bottom was coming from! As a journalist from Poland, she puts her investigative journalism skills to the test and shows us the true importance...

Sep 13, 202159 minEp. 308

Warning: Stop Sticking Eels Up Your Butt - Feel Good Friday

This week gets a little out of hand. While Jeremie is dodging Tornados in Ontario, the gang talk about the worlds largest grave yard, a dad who strips down at a school board meeting in protest, a badass young woman with down syndrome going to UCB, a guy who chopped off his pee pee in a police chase, several poor chaps who stuck one too many eels up their bung hole, and a worse-off chap who backwards ejaculated to death... maybe? Yeah, it's one of those weeks.

Sep 10, 20211 hr 2 min

Routine Checkup: Why Does The USA Suck At Healthcare?

A report published by the Commonwealth Fund shows the USA ranking dead last amongst its wealthy peers (Canada isn't great either). Why? The fellas are joined by Reggie Williams, vice president of the Commonwealth Fund’s International Health Policy and Practice Innovations program, to talk about the recent report and what they learned. How does the country that far outspends every other country have the poorest healthcare system performance? Check out the full report here: https://bit.ly/3hbNtrE

Sep 08, 202142 min

The Burden Of Cultural Taboos Surrounding Illness: CIDP w/ Ananya

This week we are pleased to welcome back Ananya, professor in McGill’s faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, specializing in Health Promotion, Social Determinants of Health and South Asian Health Equity. Only this time we aren't talking about the important work she does. Instead we dive deep into her personal experience dealing with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. The hell is that? It's a neurological disorder characterized by progressive weakness and impaired sensory funct...

Sep 06, 202158 minEp. 307

Could Liquid Oxygen Enemas Be The Next Medical Breakthrough?! - Feel Good Friday

The gang is back and they are coming at ya hard with some prime time FGF content. Do we have a Ophilia McHock in the audience today? Ophilia McHock? How about a... Don Keedic? No? Okay, moving on. Apparently there is a rollercoaster in Japan that is so fast it's crushing peoples spines. Sounds fun. Know what else is fun? Petting cute puppies while getting your COVID vaccine! Finally for this week's edition of WHAT THE HELLTH!? We cover a mind boggling study where one doctor who has way too many ...

Sep 03, 20211 hr 11 min

The Ultramarathon Of Chronic Illness: CVID

Running 500 kilometres in 10 days is insanely tough. Add in an immune system disorder, and it seems impossible. For Cory Reese, who lives with an immune deficiency, running 500 kilometres was an enjoyable vacation. Today Cory joins the boys to talk about the physical and mental endurance it takes to run ultramarathons with a chronic illness.

Aug 30, 20211 hr 6 minEp. 306

Our Best Friend Dylan And A Man With A Broken Pee Pee

The crew is on vacay this week! So we've decided to bring you something special for this week's Feel Good Friday! We present to you a recording we did back in July as an exclusive Patreon live show where we are revisited by Sickboy Podcast Alum and our BFF, Dylan Buskermolen! He takes us through his journey back into the stem cell transplant chair along with his old man. We also hit a very hardcore What The Hellth about a poor man who pumped a little too hard and broke his member. Ouchie!! Enjoy...

Aug 27, 20211 hr 10 min

Routine Checkup: The Ethics Of Vaccine Passports

As governments and businesses start to make COVID vaccines mandatory, there are a lot of questions about the ethics of vaccine passports. Do they create a two-tiered society? What if they exclude vulnerable people who don't have access to a phone? How can we protect people's personal information? Professor Arthur Schafer is an expert in bio-medical ethics and he joined the fellas to share his perspective on how we can make vaccine passports fair for everyone.

Aug 25, 202155 min

Finding Light At The End Of The Tunnel: Surviving The Toronto Van Attack

For Paulina, April 23, 2018 was just as mundane as any other day, until on her lunch break... everything changed. She was walking from her office to a place to grab some food when all of a sudden she heard the van revving its engine behind her as it made its way on to the curb. This domestic terrorist attack took the lives of 10 people and injured 16 others. For Paulina it was a completely life altering event. One that would change her life in ways that she couldn't have imagined. This week we t...

Aug 23, 20211 hrEp. 305

The Vaccine That Is Very NSFW - Feel Good Friday

Have you been a naughty boy/girl/person? Nurse Parker is here to make sure you get your prick. Only this vaccine is not safe for work. Or public. Or anywhere in earshot of anyone who might feel uncomfortable with audible medical fetish pornography. On a more serious note, Nova Scotia has some work to do when it comes to healthcare. No one should die in a wheelchair in the ER while waiting to receive care. However if Jeremie dies let it be known, his funeral better be a banger. Pour one out for h...

Aug 20, 20211 hr 6 min

Routine Checkup: The Evolutionary Psychology Behind Bias w/ Dr. Glenn Geher

We all have unconscious biases that affect how we judge people. While those biases used to serve a purpose when we humans were hunter-gatherers in small groups, they no longer help us now that we live in cities and can anonymously interact with millions of other people. On today's episode of Sickboy Podcast, evolutionary psychologist Dr. Glenn Geher joins the boys to explain different biases, why we evolved to have them, and how to be more conscious of them. And be sure to check out Dr. Geher's ...

Aug 18, 202154 min

No Sweat! One Woman's Struggle With ADHD

They say to 'never let them see you sweat.' That's not a problem for Rielle, who has a rare skin condition that prevents her from sweating. On today's episode of Sickboy Podcast, Rielle joins the gang to talk about how she stays cool and her experience as a woman in engineering with ADHD.

Aug 16, 20211 hr 3 minEp. 304

Placebo To Death & A DIY C-Section - Feel Good Friday

Kick back, chow down on some banana nut bread edibles and get ready to lose your god damn mind! This week the gang revisit the sh*t show that is: Alberta. A man who tried to end his life by intentionally overdosing on antidepressants was saved by the pills he took- because it turned out they were placebos. A psycho nurse "pranks" thousands of vaccine receiving patients. A woman who knows a thing or two about birth now also knows a thing or two about cutting babies out of her own belly. Has that ...

Aug 13, 20211 hr 8 min

Routine Checkup: Climate Change - It's Bad For Your Health

While it’s clear that climate change hurts the health of our environment, we don’t always think about how it affects our health. On today’s episode of Sickboy Podcast, Dr. Kristie Ebi joins the fellas to talk about the unexpected ways that climate change impacts our health — including making our food less nutritious.

Aug 11, 202145 min

"Having Down Syndrome Is A Piece Of Art" w/ Nicholas

Nicholas is a beautiful human being who is living his best life and pursuing his passion in the world of fashion. Nicholas was born with Down Syndrome and it doesn't stop him from doing whatever the hell he wants. He sits down with the boys to advocate, inspire and joke around while talking about his life as a gay man living with Down Syndrome and trying to find love and express himself through art.

Aug 09, 202136 minEp. 303

Depressed? Why Not Drill A Hole In Your Own Head? An Earlier Bed Time Works Too! - Feel Good Friday

This week we're joined buy our lovely community of sweet potatoes as we talk about WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS HAPPENING IN ALBERTA?! We also look at a recent JAMA study that will leave you wanting to hit the sack a bit earlier than usual! Then Jeremie gets some payback for the most recent YouTube video. Finally for this weeks WHAT THE HELLTH!? Jer takes the gang down a dark rabbit hole of self surgery and trepanning. Get ready to feel good.

Aug 06, 20211 hr 27 min

Routine Checkup: Placebos w/ Dr. John Kelley

Did you know the phrase "placebo effect" is an oxymoron? That's because placebos aren't supposed to have an effect, but sometimes they do. On today's episode of Sickboy Podcast, Dr. John Kelley joins the fellas to talk about the power of placebos, and how they can even help us tackle issues like the opioid crisis.

Aug 04, 202155 min

I Want To Keep My Amputated Leg Please & Thank You: Post Accident Advocacy w/ Justin

Justin was walking home from work when all of a sudden he was struck by a motorcycle going upwards of 100 km/h. The accident tore his leg off and he almost lost his life. Thanks to the swift work from the EMT's and Physicians/Nurses that came to the rescue, Justin's life was saved. However, the damage from the accident was so severe that he would lose his leg. While recovering in the hospital he had a thought "what will they do with my leg?" The answer he received didn't sit well with him and so...

Aug 02, 20211 hr 13 minEp. 302

She Lost Her Eye To A Speck Of Glitter?! Feel Good Friday

Puppy fever continues, but this time it's for Narwhal — the golden retriever who has a deformity that makes him cuter than imaginable. The gang discusses a shocking link between the devastating disease, ALS and those who work in the military. Speaking of devastating, this one goes out to all you coffee drinkers out there. Your morning brown might be leading you down a road to dementia. Finally, in this weeks "What The Hellth?!", we cover the unfortunate case of a woman who lost her freakin' eyeb...

Jul 30, 202155 min

Routine Checkup: Cancer Metaphor Menu w/ Dr. Elena Semino

Dr. Elena Semino is a professor in the Department of Linguistics and English Language at Lancaster University in England. She also is the principal investigator on the ‘Metaphor, Cancer and End of Life Project’ aka the Cancer Metaphor Menu. You see, how we talk about illness matters. Especially when it comes to using metaphors. Not only do they help contextualize the experience of illness, it also plays a key role in communication. This week, smart person Dr. Semino brings the fellas along on a ...

Jul 28, 202143 min

Thunderclap - A Life of Pain w/ Stefan Alexander: Central Sensitization Syndrome

Stefan is a NYC based artist who saw his entire future crash before his very eyes. It all started with tendonitis in his forearm but little did he know that pain was just the beginning. Central Sensitization Syndrome is a condition of the nervous system that is associated with the development and maintenance of chronic pain. What began with pain in the arm led Stefan down a long and arduous road that eventually led him to the Mayo Clinic where he received a diagnosis, and eventually the methods ...

Jul 26, 20211 hr 16 minEp. 301

Hair Dye Made Her Head Explode?! - Feel Good Friday

It's puppy mania over at Sickboy HQ. Speaking of puppies, have you ever watched a dog turn food into sh*t via X-Ray? Well today is your lucky day. Other than dogs running wild and causing a ruckus, the gang dive into a few injustices in the world of health and disability. Paralympic athlete Becca Meyers gets shafted by the Olympics by some illogical COVID-19 protection protocols. Plus a woman with Bell's palsy suffers from losing her license due to not being physically able to blow into a tube. ...

Jul 23, 20211 hr

Routine Checkup: The Science Of Pain

Pain researchers have a joke that when someone is asked to rate their pain from 1 to 10, the most common response is 11. Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, a neuroscientist and pain researcher interested in how genetics, social factors and sex differences affect pain, believes this joke to be based in truth. Dr. Mogil heads the Pain Genetics Lab at McGill University & is the founder and Director of NAPS, the North American Pain School. This week he joins the fellas and schools them all about the science of ...

Jul 21, 202147 min

Wildfire: Reclaiming Your Body After Breast Cancer

Reconnecting with your body after cancer is a long process. To get herself through it, April Stearns founded a magazine just for breast cancer patients and survivors like herself. Today, she joined the fellas to share different writing exercises to help feel at home in a new body after cancer.

Jul 19, 202158 min

Puppies, Horrifying Workplace Accidents, and Human Cannibalism - Feel Good Friday

Donut's fresh out of the oven. Jer introduces the world to his new best bud and he's too cute to handle. Cute Aggression activate. Then, you get burgers delivered to your door. And furniture. Why not your fertility meds? Finally we get very bizarre in this week's What The Hellth?! Ever heard of Vorarephilia? Well... you're about to.

Jul 16, 20211 hr 3 min

Routine Checkup: Gender Bias in Health Studies w/ Dr. Rebecca Shansky

Male rat brains are "normal" and the "text book standard". Female rat brains are "moody", “unpredictable", "hormonal" and can't be trusted when it comes to procuring reliable data in the study of health science. Now... does this sound like some patriarchal bullsh*t? Yeah, we thought so too. This week the guys are joined by Dr. Rebecca Shansky who has poured a lot of work into trying to change the narrative in neuroscience when it comes to how the scientific community views the differences betwee...

Jul 14, 202138 min
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