Solitary Confinement: The Dark Reality of Reform Schools

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 limbo of an unidentified lung mass, and the paradigm shift that transformed her approach to healing. From vitamin C therapies to becoming a human light bulb during hyperthermia treatments, Christine's story reminds us that sometimes the path to healing isn't about choosing sides—it's about embracing what works, even if it challenges everything you once believed.Check out our previous episodes where we discuss breast cancer and lung cancer here and here.Follow Sickboy on Instagram, TikTok and Discord!

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" without ever opening the skull. From Chuck E. Cheese anxiety attacks to groundbreaking clinical trials, this episode explores the intersection of mental health innovation and patient care. Dr. Lipsman drops the mic with "It's better to have no brain than bad brain" - a statement that's both terrifying and oddly reassuring. Stick around to hear how a thousand tiny sound beams and one brave patient are changing the future of mental health treatment.Hear our previous fascinating chat about OCD here.Follow Sickboy on Instagram, TikTok and Discord!

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 fertility challenges. Taylor shares his own IVF journey, while Jeremie explores the reality of future family planning with CF. Plus, we tackle the uncomfortable truth about how expensive it is to make a baby when your body needs a little extra help. Whether you're in the thick of it or supporting someone who is, this episode strips away the awkwardness and gets real about what it means to face infertility.Check out our previous episode about fertility struggles here.Follow Sickboy on Instagram, TikTok and Discord!

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 their fears, we explore how the wild helps us heal. Plus, Jeremie shares the intimate moment of making eye contact with a deer while peeing in the wilderness—because nothing says "finding yourself" quite like that.Be sure to check out Jer & Sam's episode of Caregivers in the Wild on Youtube!Check out Sam's previous conversation with us here.Follow Sickboy on Instagram, TikTok and Discord.

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 story is one of resilience and reinvention. She opens up about the emotional toll, shifting social circles, and the internalized ableism that kept her from even telling a date she was blind. Ashley also dives into her creative process for Static, a darkly comedic play (and podcast) inspired by her journey. With humour and heart, she sheds light on the hidden dangers of homemade alcohol and the power of storytelling in healing.Be sure to check out Ashley's new podcast Static: A Party Girl's Memoir.Check out some of our other episodes where guests share their experiences with blindness here, here and here.Follow Sickboy on Instagram, TikTok and Discord!

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 how donations power these life-saving advancements. It's an emotional, eye-opening journey into the science, stories, and spirit of the fight against blood cancer.For more information on how you can support those battling Leukemia & Lymphoma visit: https://www.bloodcancers.ca/Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube.Follow Sickboy on TikTok, Instagram and Discord!

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 world’s need for more female voices, Renzetti’s insights challenge the status quo with wit and candor. Listen in for a fresh take on allyship, accountability, and the uphill trek toward true gender parity.Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube here! Follow Sickboy on Instagram, TikTok and Discord.

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 emotional and physical toll, the power of family support, and the strength he found in awareness and acceptance. Follow Sickboy on Instagram, TikTok and Discord!

They needed certainty. They got chaos. For over a decade, countless people from at least five different countries put their trust in a company offering prenatal paternity tests. It promised clients “99.9% accuracy” — but then routinely, for over a decade, identified the wrong biological fathers.Investigative journalists Jorge Barrera and Rachel Houlihan track down the people whose lives were torn apart by these bad results, the shattered families and acrimonious court cases that followed, and the story behind the company that continues to stand by its testing and is still operating today.More episodes of Uncover are available at: https://lnk.to/7IRiRnqd

Pain doesn’t always look the way people expect it to. Watercolor artist KYRIANNA delves into the reality of living with chronic pain—a sensation she likens to a broken bone that refuses to heal. Art, for her, is more than a passion; it’s a lifeline and a voice for the often invisible struggles of chronic illness. In this episode, she shares how painting helps her express and validate her symptoms while tackling the disbelief and gaslighting that can come with an invisible condition. KYRIANNA opens up about the unique catharsis of translating pain into portraits, shedding light on chronic illness and the healing power of creativity.Be sure to check out KYRIANNA'S upcoming art exhibit if you're in the area! 1078 Gallery, Chico California - November 1-24 2024.Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTubeFollow Sickboy on Instagram, TikTok and Discord!