Doctor Vs Comedian

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses sexual abuse.

Most of you have heard about the blockbuster success of the movie “Michael”. So today Ali and Asif discuss their thoughts on the resurgent popularity of Michael Jackson. Then we will “remix” in our conversation from 2024 discussion Jackson, his complicated legacy and his use of propofol.

They start off by talking about Jackson’s early life (19:38), the success of the Jackson 5 and the abuse he allegedly suffered at the hands of his father, Joe Jackson. They then discuss the success of his early solo records and the blockbuster success of ‘Thriller’. They also discuss his philanthropy and how that complicates people’s feelings for the singer. They then discuss the allegations of abuse against Michael Jackson and the 2019 documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’. The guys then try to reconcile how despite the allegations, Michael Jackson songs are still played to this day.

Since Jackson died of a propofol overdose, in the second half, the guys discuss this drug (40:53). Ali and Asif start off by going through the timeline of Jackson’s death and discussing the other drugs that were in his system. They discuss how Jackson’s personal doctor, Conrad Murray, administered benzodiazepines and propofol to Jackson. Asif discusses what propofol is, what it is commonly used for and the potential adverse effects. He then goes into detail about how propofol needs to be closely monitored when it is administered.

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 [email protected]

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Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
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Show Notes:

How Michael Jackson Made $1 Billion Since His Death: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/how-michael-jackson-made-1-billion-since-his-death-957679/
The Rise and Fall and Rise of Michael Jackson: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/magazine/michael-jackson-biopic-estate.html
Inside the ‘Michael’ Overhaul: $15 Million Reshoots, Removing Child Abuse Allegations and What’s in Store for Sequels : https://variety.com/2026/film/news/michael-movie-reshoots-removing-child-abuse-allegations-1236710221/
The Resurrection of Michael Jackson: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/podcasts/the-daily/michael-jackson-film.html
Inside the Jackson machine: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/jacksons-legacy-jackson-5
Michael Jackson: A Quarter-Century Of Sexual Abuse Allegations: https://www.npr.org/2019/03/05/699995484/michael-jackson-a-quarter-century-of-sexual-abuse-allegations
Steven Tyler Confessed to ‘Crimes of Passion’ With a 16-Year-Old in His Own Memoir: https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7v54d/steven-tyler-child-sexual-assault-lawsuit-memoir
TIMELINE: Michael Jackson's Final Days
https://abcnews.go.com/2020/MichaelJackson/michael-jackson-final-days-timeline-year-death-king/story?id=10974394
Concerns mount over misuse of anaesthetic propofol among US health professionals: https://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3673
Propofol and Green Urine: https://ekja.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.4097/kjae.2013.65.2.177
Propofol-Induced Priapism, a Case Confirmed with Rechallenge: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1345/aph.1G555
Michael Jackson’s doctor was much admired but financially strapped: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-feb-08-la-me-conrad-murray8-2010feb08-story.html
Probe Into Matthew Perry’s Acquisition of Ketamine That Led to His Death Has Multiple Suspects: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/matthew-perry-death-investigation-multiple-suspects-1235933163/
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Today, Ali and Asif discuss ‘The Roast of Kevin Hart’ on Netflix (2:06). The guys go over host Shane Gillis and their thoughts on each of the roasters. They then discuss some of the controversies associated with the roast, including their thoughts on the sets of Tony Hinchcliffe, Pete Davidson and Katt Williams.

Then the guys discuss peptides (38:45). Ali asks Asif about what exactly they are and why they have become so hyped as of late. Asif then discusses what they are used for and in particular the peptides being used to support collagen and muscle recovery. Asif then talks about the lack of evidence for their use as well as the potential dangers. Finally the guys discuss the problems with using social media for medical advice.

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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian

Show Notes:
WTF Kevin Hart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1UjSNAa6zM
WTF Kat Williams: https://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-1399-katt-williams
Michael Che Mocks White Writers: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/michael-che-mocks-white-writers-114531380
Jeff Ross on the ‘Real Tension’ Behind the ‘Roast of Kevin Hart,’ His Favorite Cut Joke and Who He Wants to Skewer Next (EXCLUSIVE): https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/jeff-ross-roast-kevin-kart-cut-joke-1236745425/
Kevin Hart vs Katt Williams beef explained: What happened and full timeline of their feud: https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/kevin-hart-vs-katt-williams-beef-explained-what-happened-and-full-timeline-of-their-feud-101778545888263.html
What to know about peptides for health: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326701#about
Peptides: Types, Uses, and Benefits: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-are-peptides
What are peptides, are they safe and is there evidence to back up the hype? https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/04/what-are-peptides-safety-wellness-products-online
Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41476424/
Peptides Promise Health Benefits, But Do They Actually Work? https://www.nyp.org/healthmatters/peptides-promise-health-benefits-but-do-they-actually-work
What do we know about ‘research only’ peptides? Q&A with expert Stuart Phillips : https://news.mcmaster.ca/what-do-we-know-about-research-only-peptides-qa-with-expert-stuart-phillips/

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Most of you have heard about the recent outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship, so today Asif and Ali revisit that topic (no entertainment topic for today). We will go over the facts of the outbreak and then splice in our conversation from last spring about all things hantavirus.

Ali asks Asif about this rare infection and how it is transmitted by exposure to rodent droppings. Asif discusses how people contract it, how common it is and where in North American you can be exposed to it. He then discusses the two serious forms of the disease – hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and hantavirus renal syndrome. He then goes over the treatment and the prevention of the disease.

NB Since this episode came out early, our next episode will be out May 22!

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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian

Show Notes:

Risk of hantavirus pandemic 'very low,' Canada's top health official say: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/livestory/hantavirus-questions-answered-9.7192423
Hantavirus in humans: a review of clinical aspects and management: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00128-7/abstract
Hantavirus in humans: a review of clinical aspects and management: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00128-7/abstract
What Is Hantavirus, the Rare Disease That Killed Betsy Arakawa? https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/health/what-is-hantavirus-gene-hackman-wife.html
Hantavirus: What it is, how it spreads, how often it's fatal: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/what-is-hantavirus-explained-gene-hackman-betsy-arakawa-1.7479265
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Asif and Ali, after a brief digression about Halifax and indie-band ‘The Lowest of the Low’, the guys discuss ‘SNL UK’ (4:25). They discuss how the show came about, the involvement of Lorne Michaels, and other failed SNL franchises in other countries. They then discuss the similarities and differences between the show and classic SNL. Finally they go over their thoughts on the cast and the show as a whole.

Then Ali tells us the story about his recent sleep study (22:50). Asif then goes over sleep studies in general – what they consist of and what they test for. Since both of your sleep challenged co-hosts have had sleep studies, Asif goes through both of the guys' sleep test results.

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 [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian

Show Notes:

Lowest of the Low Celebrate 35 years of ‘Shakespeare My Butt”: https://spillmagazine.com/spill-news-lowest-of-the-low-celebrate-35-years-of-shakespeare-my-butt-shakespeare-my-butt-anniversary-edition-limbotown-revisited-arrives-may-8/
SNL UK: https://www.youtube.com/@SaturdayNightLiveUK
Saturday Night Live UK review – it didn’t fail and it could have been a lot worse: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/mar/22/saturday-night-live-uk-review-it-didnt-fail-and-it-could-have-been-a-lot-worse
Britain’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ as Seen From Both Sides of the Atlantic: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/23/arts/television/saturday-night-live-uk-review.html
Why SNL UK Is Surprisingly Good: https://sharpmagazine.com/2026/04/08/is-snl-uk-good/
SNL CPAP skit: https://www.facebook.com/snl/videos/cpap-commercial/1216745723607261/
Sleep Studies: https://sleep.hms.harvard.edu/education-training/public-education/sleep-and-health-education-program/sleep-health-education-34
How to interpret the results of a sleep study:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4246141/Polysomnography
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Today Asif and Ali discuss the career of Riz Ahmed and his new Prime series ‘Bait’. They start off by discussing Ahmed’s rap career, his early roles, how he broke the colour barrier for South Asian actors, and their favourite Riz Ahmed movies. They then discuss his genre bending new series ‘Bait’.

Then they discuss psychosis (a theme in ‘Bait’). Ali asks Asif about what it is, how commonly it is seen, and what the symptoms are. Asif then describes how psychosis is different from schizophrenia and how it is treated. Then the guys discuss how psychosis can be seen more often in the South Asian Community and in victims of racism.

Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay

Contact us at [email protected]

Follow us on Social media:
Twitter: @doctorvcomedian
Instagram: doctorvcomedian

Show Notes:
Riz Ahmed Interview: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/945418550
Typecast as a Terrorist: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/15/riz-ahmed-typecast-as-a-terrorist
Riz Ahmed is his own worst critic. His new show 'Bait' explores that: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/23/nx-s1-5753772/riz-ahmed-bait-james-bond
Riz MC - Post 9/11 Blues (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKTsJpfC0IQ)
Immigrants (we get the job done):: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_35a7sn6ds
‘The dream is to be a standup, but everyone who knows me says: Please don’t’ – Riz Ahmed on chaos, comedy, and defying categorisation: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/mar/21/riz-ahmed-interview-on-chaos-standup-comedy-and-defying-categorisation
‘I Was Told It Was Career Suicide’ – The Oral History of ‘Four Lions’: https://www.vice.com/en/article/four-lions-making-of-oral-history-trivia/
https://www.riztest.com/
Riz Ahmed’s ‘Bait’ Is About James Bond — But Mostly About Shame: https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/riz-ahmed-bait-interview-james-bond-1235536324/
GUZ KHAN: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWJS4c_jXrb/
Bait sheds light on British‑Pakistani mental health struggles rarely seen on screen: https://theconversation.com/bait-sheds-light-on-british-pakistani-mental-health-struggles-rarely-seen-on-screen-280102
Psychosis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546579/
Ethnic density and first episode psychosis in the British Pakistani population: findings from the East Lancashire Early Intervention Service: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38634312/
Perceptions from the British Pakistani Muslim community towards mental health:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13674676.2023.2215168
Racial discrimination may increase psychosis risk: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/racial-discrimination-may-increase-psychosis-risk

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