Episode 190: Norm MacDonald / Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplants

Doctor Vs Comedian

Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of the late great Norm MacDonald. They start off by talking about his early life, his start in comedy and his breakthrough on ‘Saturday Night Live’. They discuss his other projects and then Asif asks Ali about Norm’s comedy style and Ali’s thoughts on MacDonald’s last Netflix comedy special ‘Nothing Special’. After a brief discussion of Norm’s gambling issues, they then discuss how he kept his diagnosis of multiple myeloma a secret for years and what eventually led to his death in 2021.

MacDonald had several stem cell transplants, so in the second half, Ali asks Asif about these. Asif explains how stem cell transplants and bone marrow transplants are the same thing, the history of this procedure and how it is used against cancer. Asif goes over the different types of transplants, how the stem cells are harvested and how one finds a donor. Finally they discuss the complications of stem cell transplants.

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Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay

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Show Notes:

• The resurrection of Norm Macdonald: https://theweek.com/articles/646450/resurrection-norm-macdonald
• Jim Downey | Full Episode | Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyu6wkXn1cg
• Jim Downey & Norm Macdonald Were Both Fired From “SNL” | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQIFu9QEI9Y
• Norm Macdonald had one last secret: https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/05/29/norm-macdonald-nothing-special-netflix/
• Norm Macdonald from 2011: http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/repost-norm-macdonald-from-2011
• Stem cell transplant: https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/treatment-types/stem-cell-transplant
• Stem Cell Transplants in Cancer Treatment: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/stem-cell-transplant
• Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536951/