Episode 07 - Darrin Rose "Brain Trauma & Comedy" w hosts Pete Johansson & Dr Paul Whissell

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The Slow Learner Podcast with Pete Johansson

TheSlowLearner

8 episodes

1 week ago

The Slow Learner is where comedy meets neuroscience. Hosted by comedian Pete Johansson and neuroscientist Dr. Paul Whissell, this podcast dives into the fascinating ways humour shapes our minds, relationships, and resilience. With guests like Brent Butt, Darcy Michael, and Des Bishop, each episode explores how comedy taps into cognitive science — revealing why laughter isn’t just fun, but vital.

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Episode 07 - Darrin Rose "Brain Trauma & Comedy" w hosts Pete Johansson & Dr Paul Whissell

The Slow Learner Podcast with Pete Johansson

1 hour 19 minutes 5 seconds

4 months ago

Episode 07 - Darrin Rose "Brain Trauma & Comedy" w hosts Pete Johansson & Dr Paul Whissell

In this unforgettable episode, comedian and actor Darrin Rose (Mr.D, MatchGame, LetterKenny, Home Sweet Home & more) joins Pete Johansson and neuroscientist Dr. Paul Whissell to share a deeply personal and shockingly funny story: getting sucker punched in Halifax while waiting for poutine. What follows is a brutal, hilarious, and at times heartbreaking tale of injury, botched medical care, police failure — and eventually, healing through comedy.

Darrin’s story becomes a springboard for a wide-ranging conversation on:

The ethics and art of using trauma on stage
Anger and personality change after head injuries
Why our brains forget traumatic events (and sometimes that’s a good thing)
How different parts of the brain — like the orbital frontal cortex — influence impulse control and behaviour
The cultural psychology of comedy: Canadians, tall poppy syndrome, embellishment, and truth
Hassan Minhaj, The Daily Show fallout, and the risks of narrative comedy
Phineas Gage, memory consolidation, and brain plasticity
Laughter, connection, and how jokes can be healing

This episode is raw, real, and resonant — a powerful example of why storytelling matters and how humour helps us make sense of the senseless.

Whether you're a comedy fan, psychology nerd, or just want to hear about facial reconstruction and poutine-based assaults, Episode 7 delivers.

Chapters

00:00 The Aftermath of Violence

01:55 Healthcare System and Recovery Challenges

09:13 The Impact of Brain Injuries on Personality

15:10 Memory and Trauma: Understanding Amnesia

21:06 Navigating Healthcare: A Personal Journey

21:32 The Art of Storytelling in Comedy

26:32 Vulnerability and Connection on Stage

29:52 Navigating Dark Humor and Trauma

37:05 Personal Growth and Self-Awareness

40:42 The Impact of Brain Injuries on Personality

47:17 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions

Darrin Rose's Links: - Also, Darrin will be doing a cross Canada Tour this fall!

Instagram: @mrdarrinrose

Twitter: @darrinrose

Tiktok: @darrinrosecomedy

The Slow Learner & Pete Johanssons Links:

https://links.theslowlearner.com/

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show email: thelowlearnerpodcast@gmail.com