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

The Truth About Seizures No One Talks About | Seizures, Sex & Suicidal Ideation

What happens when your brain betrays you with seizures that arrive without warning and leave you depressed for days? Meet Landis, a writer and podcaster who developed epilepsy after brain tumor surgery at age 32. In this illuminating conversation, she breaks down the reality of living with seizures that arrive without warning, including the four-day depression cycle that follows each episode. From creating a post-seizure self-care system complete with personal reminders, to experiencing fascinat...

May 07, 20251 hr 5 minEp. 501

They Said Yes to the Transplant—Then Begged to Undo It

What if the thing that saved your life ended up making you feel like a stranger in your own body? Whose Hand Is It Anyway? This week, Jer goes full Frankenstein as he walks the guys through the psychological minefield of visible transplants—hands, faces, and all the weird, uncomfortable identity baggage that comes with them. From the guy who returned his donor hand, to another who says he’d rather go back to prosthetics, to a woman who looked in the mirror and saw a stranger’s mouth — this episo...

Apr 30, 202548 minEp. 500

Bone Cancer, Titanium Legs & a Comeback Story You Won’t Believe

He lost most of his leg, two lungs got cracked open, and somehow he still walked it off—literally. Jeff Bryant’s life was all about basketball—until a swollen leg led to a diagnosis of high-grade osteosarcoma. What followed was a wild medical journey: a full femur and knee replacement, the loss of three out of four quadriceps, two lung surgeries, and multiple reconstructive operations. But Jeff didn’t just survive—he came back swinging, walking hospital laps days after surgery, mentoring other p...

Apr 23, 202551 minEp. 499

Living With EDS, POTS & a Medical System That Can’t Keep Up

When Gwen first went to the doctor for stomach pain, she didn’t expect to leave with a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome—let alone a growing list of conditions including POTS and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. In this episode, the gang explore what it’s like to get too many answers too quickly, how chronic illness reshapes identity, and why the system often fails patients with complex needs. From medical gaslighting to becoming a voice for disability advocacy, Gwen’s story is as sharp as it is...

Apr 16, 202557 minEp. 498

Dr. Diane Powell: Telepathy, Savants & the Science Behind The Telepathy Tapes

Are we witnessing the first scientific proof of telepathy? Dr. Diane Powell is a Harvard-trained neuroscientist and psychiatrist who’s spent the last 20 years diving deep into a topic most scientists wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole: telepathy. And not just any kind — we’re talking about non-speaking autistic children who seem to communicate mind-to-mind. In this mind-bending episode, Diane joins the fellas to unpack her controversial research, the wild experiments that left her questioning e...

Apr 09, 202559 minEp. 497

These Films Changed How We Process Grief — And They Might Do the Same for You

What do Hereditary, Sound of Metal, A Ghost Story, and The Rugrats Movie have in common? They’ll absolutely destroy you—and maybe help you feel a little more human while they’re at it. This week, Jeremie and Brian sit down with Elliott and Kylie from the Moody Movie Club podcast, who are running a film screening series all about grief, loss, and those beautiful moments where a cartoon baby can make you ugly cry. Together, they unpack four films that hit like a truck and make a strong case for wh...

Apr 02, 202558 minEp. 496

“I’m Too Young for the Nursing Home!” | Multiple Sclerosis

What if you were too young for the place you had no choice but to call home? At 39, Mel moved into a long-term care facility because of her MS. Fifteen years later, she's navigating a world designed for people twice her age—where privacy requires special door signs, intimacy becomes a spectator sport, and a single shower per week is the norm. With unflinching honesty and humour, Mel takes the fellas inside her daily reality: having meaningful conversations in a place where 90% of residents have ...

Mar 26, 202543 minEp. 495

Bombs, Bullets, and Blood | The Insane Reality of a Combat Medic in Ukraine

When war rages, combat medics are the only thing standing between life and death. Most people will never experience the chaos of a war zone—but for combat medics like Philip, it’s just another day at work. From dodging artillery fire while treating wounded soldiers to sneaking through conflict zones under cover of darkness, this episode takes you inside the high-stakes world of battlefield medicine. Philip shares firsthand accounts of life-saving interventions, near-death moments, and the mental...

Mar 19, 202551 minEp. 494

Shift Your Emotions & Change Your Life | Dr. Ethan Kross

Your inner voice can be your greatest weapon—or your worst enemy. So… which one is yours? Psychologist and bestselling author Ethan Kross joins the boys to unpack the science of self-talk, emotional control, and mental resilience. Why do some people crack under pressure while others thrive? What separates high performers from those who let emotions run their lives? And most importantly, how can you take control of your mind before it controls you? Ethan takes Jer and Bri on a dive deep into his ...

Mar 12, 202541 minEp. 493

BONUS: This Conversation Shattered Everything We Thought About Reality!

What if everything we think we know about reality is just scratching the surface? After our deep dive into Savant Syndrome and Telepathy, we found ourselves spiralling into a whole new conversation—one that forced us to rethink everything we believe about consciousness, religion, and the limits of human potential. This bonus episode is a portion of this weeks episode that didn't make the final cut but we thought deserved its own dedicated episode. From the boundaries between science and the unex...

Mar 07, 202540 min

Are Autistic Children Telepathic?! | Savant Syndrome

What if your thoughts aren’t just your own? Some scientists believe telepathy might be real… and the proof could lie in savant syndrome. Some people wake up from traumatic brain injuries with brand-new talents—like instantly becoming a world-class musician or solving impossible math problems. Others, born with savant syndrome, display superhuman memory, artistic mastery, and skills they never learned. But how does this happen? This episode the boys dive into the mind-bending world of savants, ac...

Mar 05, 20251 hr 2 minEp. 491

Her Jaw Disintegrated | TMJ & Facial Reconstructive Surgery

How do you fix a face that’s falling apart? In Rachel’s case, you break it even more. What started as trouble swallowing as a teenager turned into a full facial reconstruction. Rachel’s TMJ deterioration left her unable to eat, breathe properly, or even recognize her own face. With her airway down to just 2 millimeters (when it should be 11!), doctors had no choice but to break and rebuild her entire jaw. In this episode, Rachel walks us through her insane surgical journey—from bone saws to gold...

Feb 26, 202559 minEp. 490

Doctors Told Him He Was Dying—He Responded by Feeding an Entire City | Polycystic Kidney Disease

"Only move from love, don’t move from fear." That’s the mantra guiding Mark Brand, a world-class chef who went from spiraling into self-destruction to serving over 2,200 meals a day to Vancouver’s most vulnerable. At 27, Mark was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease—a degenerative condition that would eventually shut down his organs. Doctors warned him he’d be on dialysis by 35 and told him to slow down. Instead, he went harder—booze, drugs, chaos. But rock bottom isn’t always the end. For M...

Feb 19, 20251 hr 4 minEp. 489

11 Hours in a Morgue… Then She Sat Up | The Shocking Truth About Lazarus Syndrome

Declared dead. Hours later, she opened her eyes—very much alive. From waking up in a chilly morgue to defying every known law of medicine, this episode dives into the spine-tingling reality of Lazarus Syndrome—when someone pronounced clinically dead shocks everyone by suddenly coming back to life. We trace eerie accounts of premature burial fears, ancient “safety coffins,” and real-life cases that baffle even seasoned professionals. Tune in as the boys dissect the science, folklore, and mind-ben...

Feb 12, 202554 minEp. 488

The Truth About Death | Mystical Experiences, Ego, and MAiD Controversy

What if dying is the most transformative experience you'll ever have? David Maginley unpacks the mysteries of death and spirituality, sharing profound insights on near-death experiences, ego deconstruction, and the cultural impact of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). David, a psycho-spiritual therapist, chaplain, and four-time cancer survivor, dives deep into the mysteries of death, dying, and spirituality in this thought-provoking conversation. Drawing from 25 years of experience supporting p...

Feb 05, 202558 minEp. 487

86% Die Within 24 Hours | A Coma Survivor Story

When the odds say you shouldn't be alive, sometimes you wake up and make a podcast application anyway. In this episode, Hannah Maria takes us through her miraculous survival story after a devastating collision with a semi-truck left her with the lowest possible score on the Glasgow Coma Scale. From a shattered pelvis to a brain that decided to take an 11-day nap, her injuries read like a medical textbook's greatest hits. But what happens when you wake up thinking you're pregnant, only to discove...

Jan 29, 202553 minEp. 485

Why Caregivers Need Care Too

When your healthcare system runs on love and unpaid overtime, something's gotta give. This week, we're joined by Liv Mendelsohn, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, to unpack a staggering reality: for every hour of professional healthcare, there are three hours of unpaid care happening behind closed doors. From accidental caregivers who don't realize they've joined the club to burnt-out heroes keeping our healthcare system from collapse, Liv breaks down why Canad...

Jan 27, 202540 minEp. 485

I Only Ate Squash for a Year In Hopes To Stay Alive: Cystic Fibrosis

When your parents tell you you'll be the exception to CF's cruel rules, you either sink or swim - Madison MacGregor chose to freestyle. When doctors couldn't halt her declining health, Madison went rogue - ditching the CF diet for squash and alternative treatments until she weighed just 88 pounds. From competitive dancing with an IV to battling her medical team at every turn, this self-proclaimed "geriatric Gen Z-er" shares her unconventional journey through CF. But the real twist? Sometimes sur...

Jan 22, 20251 hr 4 minEp. 484

Crushed but Unbroken: Hit By A Bus

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but Brad Arseneau’s here to prove them wrong. At 49, he decided to master skateboarding, a hobby that quickly became a passion—and surprisingly, had nothing to do with the bus accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Brad’s journey of resilience began not on his skateboard, but his bike. Faced with unimaginable challenges, he refused to let the accident define him. From relearning how to walk to skating like he never missed a beat, Brad...

Jan 15, 20251 hr 7 minEp. 483

Sickboy Introduces: On Drugs

On Drugs looks through the lenses of history, pop culture and personal experience to understand how drugs have shaped our world. Because even if it’s just caffeine or ibuprofen, there’s a good chance you’re on drugs right now. More episodes of On Drugs are available at: https://link.mgln.ai/upajoH

Jan 13, 202541 min

The Problem With "Healthy Eating": Orthorexia & Diet Culture

When the pursuit of health becomes unhealthy, it’s time to rewrite the rules. From struggling with orthorexia to becoming a leading voice against diet culture, registered dietitian Abbey Sharp joins us to explore the complex relationship between mental health and eating. Abbey shares her journey from an obsession with "clean eating" to helping others find food freedom, while breaking down popular wellness myths and the science behind trending diets. Together, Jer, Taylor and Abbey dive into intu...

Jan 08, 20251 hr 5 minEp. 482

Show Me Your Bank Statement, I'll Show You Your Trauma

That impulse purchase you made at 2 AM? It wasn't about the thing you bought—it was about that thing that happened when you were seven. In this episode, we sit down with financial expert Jessica Moorhouse to explore the hidden emotional roots of our money habits. From childhood trauma to ADHD, we dive into the surprising ways our mental health shapes our financial decisions. Jessica opens up about her own journey and shares insights from her new book "Everything But Money," helping us understand...

Jan 01, 202551 minEp. 481

Two Times The Cancer, Double The Strength: Stage 3C Breast Cancer & Lung Cancer

Sometimes the scariest monsters aren't under your bed—they're hiding behind your ribs. At 31, Christine Elliott found herself staring at a suspicious divot in her breast that would launch her into a battle with not just one, but two formidable opponents. From being a naturopathic devotee to embracing chemotherapy, her journey challenges the false dichotomy between traditional and alternative medicine. Christine candidly shares her experience with stage 3C breast cancer, the terrifying five-month...

Dec 25, 202453 minEp. 480

Zapping Away OCD: The Future of Brain Surgery Is Soundwaves

What if the secret to fixing your brain was as simple as a thousand tiny sound beams and a really close shave? In this special live episode from the CTO Conference in Toronto, the fellas sit down with Rima, a clinical trial participant who traded Lysol face wipes for focused ultrasound treatment in her battle against debilitating OCD. Dr. Nir Lipsman, a neurosurgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, joins to explain how his team is revolutionizing brain surgery by making precision "strikes" ...

Dec 18, 202455 minEp. 479

Making Babies Ain't Easy (Or Cheap): Infertility Support

Breaking the silence around infertility isn't easy—but neither is pretending you're fine when Karen from accounting suggests "just relaxing" will help you get pregnant. This week, Dr. Vaneeta Sandhu, founder of the Fertility Wellness Collective, brings her expertise as both a clinical psychologist and someone who's walked the infertility path herself. From navigating the emotional minefield of IVF to dealing with well-meaning but clueless friends, we dive deep into the psychological impact of fe...

Dec 11, 20241 hrEp. 478

Cancer Mom's Gone Wild

Nature doesn't just heal—it teaches, tests, and transforms. This week, we paddle into the breathtaking Alberta Badlands with filmmaker Mike Lang and Sam Taylor, a cancer mom turning caregiving on its head. Together with Jeremie, stand up paddled 60 KM down the Red Deer River over three days. The whole adventure was documented on Caregivers in the Wild, a web series that throws caregivers into nature to help them find themselves again. From SUP adventures to deep talks about letting kids face the...

Dec 04, 20241 hr 4 min

Blind Drunk: Methanol Poisoning

Not all hangovers leave you blind, but Ashley King’s did. In this episode, the actor and playwright shares her harrowing experience of methanol poisoning after being served a contaminated beverage while on vacation in Bali. Unlike ethanol, the alcohol found in drinks, methanol is highly toxic and can cause severe health issues. This tragedy left Ashley with irreversible vision loss. From the life-saving medical intervention in New Zealand to navigating daily life with a disability, Ashley’s stor...

Nov 27, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 476

The Fight Against Blood Cancer: How Donations Save Lives

Blood isn’t just thicker than water—it’s a lifeline, and sometimes it needs saving. In this special three-part episode, we explore leukemia and lymphoma from every angle. First, survivor Leanne Kean opens up about the grit, hope, and humour it took to reclaim her life after cancer. Next, Dr. Mani Larijani reveals the groundbreaking research reshaping blood cancer treatment and offering new hope to patients. Finally, Daniel Blacquiere from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada highlights ...

Nov 20, 20241 hr 5 min

Gender Equality: Why We're Not There Yet (and Who's Holding Us Back)

If we’re so close to gender equality, why does it still feel like women are running a marathon in heels? In this episode, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Liz Renzetti breaks down the illusion of progress when it comes to gender equality. She schools the boys on why caregiving—mostly done by women—is undervalued, how NDAs silence victims of harassment, and why the rise of “tradwives” has patriarchy patting itself on the back. From the eerie silence surrounding NDAs to the tech wor...

Nov 13, 202452 min

"Jesus Take the Wheel... No, Not That Way!" - Stage IV Cancer

From "Why me, God?" to "Well, this is awkward..." Joel goes deep on his decade long tango with a rare cancer diagnosis. No inspirational background music or heartwarming montages here - just raw, unfiltered real talk about what happens when life serves you a hot steaming plate of garbage. Joel takes the fellas through his journey with a cancer, exploring how it rattled his faith, redefined his identity, and made him question everything he thought he believed in. Openly shedding light on the emot...

Nov 06, 202455 minEp. 473
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