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.Follow Sickboy on Instagram & TikTok!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 16, 2020 • 1h 28min
The Cystic Fibrosis Miracle Drug w/ Stephanie Stavros
Last week was a massive day for the Cystic Fibrosis community. With the announcement of Vertex planning to submit Trikafta to Health Canada for approval there was much to celebrate, but the hard work isn’t done yet! This week we speak with Stephanie Stavros, the first Canadian CF’er who was granted special access to Trikafta as she was laying on death's door. Stephanie has an absolutely wild story of growing up with CF totally in secret. As 30+ some years of a closeted salty girl she saw some serious ups and downs. From spewing blood on a first date to becoming the mother of her own child, her story is incredible.
Nov 13, 2020 • 1h 26min
The Ethics of MAID - Feel Good Friday
The gang get a vomit inducing letter from a listener about linguine like wormies filling up their belly and eating all their pizza. Also good news! There’s hope for a vaccine! Get your papers ready if you wanna see any big shows, though. Big Brother is watching you. Then the fellas have a hella enlightening conversation with Dr. Heidi Janz, Professor at the University of Alberta specializing in disability ethics. We talk about MAID and what issues the current legislature present for folks living with disabilities.
Nov 9, 2020 • 57min
Changing Lives, One Story At A Time With André Picard
Telling stories can change lives, and no one knows this better than André Picard. This week we chat with the big daddy of healthcare journalism. As Canada’s most prominent journalist on the health beat André has been through every major health event in the past few decades. He's been a long time dream guest of ours and we are absolutely honoured that André sat down with us nincompoops to talk about covering healthcare, protecting sources & keeping the powerful accountable.
Nov 6, 2020 • 1h 28min
Airplane Boners, The Singularity & Men's Mental Health
We kick off this week with a discussion around boners. Boners in bed. Boners in airplanes. Boners at the top of Mt. Everest. The gang also explore how AI can and very likely will play a role in diagnosing humans in ways that we couldn't have even imagined! Then the fellas have a frank conversation with Dr. Zac Seidler, Clinical psychologist and the Director of Mental Health Training at Movember! They chat about the mens mental health crisis, the problems with the term "toxic" masculinity and much more! For more info on Movember and what they are up to check out https://ca.movember.com/
Nov 2, 2020 • 1h 15min
Gender Transition: Pandemic Edition
Gender transition is hard at the best of times, but Travis is going through it during a goshdarn PANDEMIC. But Trav's story goes much deeper than just that! From Crohn’s to addiction to homelessness, he’s been through the ringer and overcame it all to live his truth.
Oct 30, 2020 • 1h 26min
The Science & History of Psychedelic Therapy - Feel Good Friday
Halloween is HERE! Kiddos be sure to look both ways, trust strangers in masks, and check your candy for laxatives. We dive deep into the history of stranger danger razor blades and broken glass during Halloween plus examine a study about those pesky anti-maskers and links to antisocial personality traits. Then we sit down with Dr Sean O'Sullivan, a psychotherapist who has spent an extensive amount of time researching the benefits of psychedelics as a therapeutic. A mind blowing and eye opening discussion into the history of psychedelics and how they can play a major role in the future treatment of a myriad of different issues.
Oct 26, 2020 • 1h 3min
Mushrooms: The Magic Medicine
Thomas Hartle never used drugs before his Stage IV cancer diagnosis. That’s changed thanks to Therapsil. A couple months ago, he became the first Canadian to legally use psychedelic mushrooms to treat end of life anxiety and depression. Take a listen to his story with an open mind.
Oct 23, 2020 • 1h 20min
Clouds: All Aboard The Emotional Rollercoaster with Justin Baldoni
Our friend and past Sickboy guest Justin Baldoni stops by for a little chat about his emotional and beautiful film Clouds. We talk about the importance of tapping into our more emotional side, the beauty of Zach Sobiech and his music, the process of creating a film that tells the personal story of someone who was loved by many. Clouds is now available to stream on Disney+. We highly suggest you go check it out!
Oct 19, 2020 • 1h 3min
This Is Not the End of Me: Lessons on Living from a Dying Man
This week is a heartfelt blast from the past. We spend our time chatting with Dakshana Bascaramurty, journalist and author of This Is Not the End of Me: Lessons on Living from a Dying Man - a book all about the life and death of our dear friend and OG Sickboy alum Layton Reid. The gang reminisces on his final years as he prepared his family & himself for his death from cancer. This is a special one.
Oct 16, 2020 • 1h 19min
Death Deck: A Party Game About Dying - Feel Good Friday
The WAP debate continues. The gang discuss the bummer news story of an elderly woman who wanted to spend her last days with her dying husband by fighting him in court, then they obsess over a smart toilet. Then the fellas sit down with co-founder of Death Deck, Lori LoCicero! Think about it like Cards FOR Humanity. A fun, sometimes raunchy, sometimes somber, but hella important conversation starter about the one thing we all share in common.
