“Hiatal hernia” sounds like a problem you should keep quiet about, and “choledocholithiasis” sounds like a spell from a medical musical. We decided to make both terms make sense. I’m Dr. Ben, and I’m joined by comedian and university professor Brynn Daniels plus Dr. Jameil, a general and bariatric surgeon, for a fast, funny round of “What The Heck Is That” where we translate real medical terminology into plain English.

We start with hiatal hernia and get specific: how the diaphragm separates your chest from your abdomen, how the esophagus passes through, and how part of the stomach can migrate upward. We talk about common hiatal hernia symptoms like heartburn, reflux, regurgitation, and trouble swallowing, plus why many cases show up as incidental findings on imaging. Dr. Jameil also explains why only some patients need treatment and what surgeons are trying to accomplish when they repair the anatomy.

Then we tackle choledocholithiasis, breaking down the word and the problem: gallstones that move from the gallbladder into the common bile duct and create a blockage. We cover the classic pain pattern after fatty or greasy meals, right upper quadrant pain that can radiate to the back, and the red-flag sign you should never ignore: jaundice. If you want a smarter way to understand GERD, gallstones, and bile duct obstruction without wading through confusing jargon, this is your shortcut.

Subscribe, share, and leave a review, then tell us: what medical word have you always wanted translated?

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS:

Dr Jameil: IG @drjameil, TT @bariatricbro, www.tennesseestyleweightloss.com

Brinn Daniels: IG @brinn_does_comedy, www.brinndaniels.com

Subscribe wherever you listen, share this with a friend and leave a review so more people can find honest conversations about weight loss, health, and a little comedy along the way.

This episode was produced by Angie Debelak with post-production editing by Ben Hill Sound.

Thanks for listening to Dr Ben and Friends. Laughter is the best medicine...unless you're treating bowel or bladder incontinence. See you next time!

Team Dr Ben

Share a message with Dr Ben and Friends!

Support the show

Follow and listen for free on Dr Ben and Friends website, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio!

Fan of the show? Record yourself! on Dr Ben's website and YOU could be featured on the next episode!

DISCLAIMER: Dr Ben and Friends Podcast

Quick heads-up folks: Dr Ben and Friends is your weekly dose of laughs and stories. We celebrate healthcare heroes and pro comics.

This is infotainment-- think popcorn, not prescriptions or medical advice.

If you're feeling funky, see your medical professional. Your health? That's on you. We'll stick to the punchlines.

A man gets seizures from Sudoku? That sounds like a punchline- was it a real medical case? We kick things off with our “Headline or Hoax” game and watch how quickly all of us can get fooled by a medical headline that feels just believable enough to share.

Team Dr Ben unpacks prior medical history to help to understand head injury, anoxic events, and how specific triggers like intense focus or flashing lights can tip a vulnerable brain into a seizure.

We also talk about the viral “garlic in your nostrils for congestion” trend and why irritation can feel like relief while doing nothing for the underlying inflammation.

If you care about evidence-based health, medical myths, and why misinformation spreads, this is the kind of conversation that helps you slow down and think before you repost.

Then we switch gears into pure medical comedy: a fast-paced “Buzz Battle” where a comedian attempts a 60 second surgery challenge while two docs commentate.

We close with a surprisingly relatable topic for anyone who works under pressure: operating room music, focus, and how teams stay calm and sharp.

Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves weird health stories, and leave a review with the wildest headline you’ve ever heard.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS:

Dr Jameil: IG @drjameil, TT @bariatricbro, www.tennesseestyleweightloss.com

Brinn Daniels: IG @brinn_does_comedy, www.brinndaniels.com

Subscribe wherever you listen, share this with a friend and leave a review so more people can find honest conversations about weight loss, health, and a little comedy along the way.

This episode was produced by Angie Debelak with post-production editing by Ben Hill Sound.

Thanks for listening to Dr Ben and Friends. Laughter is the best medicine...unless you're treating bowel or bladder incontinence. See you next time!

Team Dr Ben

---------------------

Share a message with Dr Ben and Friends!

Support the show

Follow and listen for free on Dr Ben and Friends website, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio!

Fan of the show? Record yourself! on Dr Ben's website and YOU could be featured on the next episode!

DISCLAIMER: Dr Ben and Friends Podcast

Quick heads-up folks: Dr Ben and Friends is your weekly dose of laughs and stories. We celebrate healthcare heroes and pro comics.

This is infotainment-- think popcorn, not prescriptions or medical advice.

If you're feeling funky, see your medical professional. Your health? That's on you. We'll stick to the punchlines.

GLP-1s are everywhere right now and the hype is loud, the brand names are confusing, and the real tradeoffs can feel impossible to pin down. 🔴 Dr Ben and Friends

We wanted a straight answer, so we brought in Dr. Jameil, a board-certified general surgeon and fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon, to explain how obesity medicine actually works when you’re sitting across from a real clinician, not an ad or a comment thread.

With comedian, filmmaker, and professor Brinn Daniels in the studio, we keep it light while we get serious about what patients need to know.

We break down GLP-1 and GIP medications: what they are, how they reduce appetite, why they can affect digestion, and why many people may need to stay on them long term. Then we zoom out to the bigger question people are really asking: GLP-1 vs bariatric surgery.

Dr. Jameil explains who is a good candidate based on BMI and co-morbidities, how insurance criteria can differ from medical guidelines, and what smart questions to ask your surgeon, including complication rates and reversibility.

From there, we walk through the main weight loss surgery options in plain language: gastric sleeve, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and why more mal-absorptive procedures like duodenal switch or SADI are reserved for specific cases. We also talk about the full patient journey, including dietitian support, psychology clearance, the fight against liquid calories like soda and sweet tea, and what results can look like in terms of excess weight loss and health improvements like diabetes remission, sleep apnea relief, and less joint pain. We finish with the future of bariatrics: Da Vinci robotic surgery, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), and why the human connection still matters.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS:

Dr Jameil: IG @drjameil, TT @bariatricbro, www.tennesseestyleweightloss.com

Brinn Daniels: IG @brinn_does_comedy, www.brinndaniels.com

Subscribe wherever you listen, share this with a friend and leave a review so more people can find honest conversations about weight loss, health, and a little comedy along the way.

This episode was produced by Angie Debelak with post-production editing by Ben Hill Sound.

Thanks for listening to Dr Ben and Friends. Laughter is the best medicine...unless you're treating bowel or bladder incontinence. See you next time!

Team Dr Ben

Share a message with Dr Ben and Friends!

Support the show

Follow and listen for free on Dr Ben and Friends website, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio!

Fan of the show? Record yourself! on Dr Ben's website and YOU could be featured on the next episode!

DISCLAIMER: Dr Ben and Friends Podcast

Quick heads-up folks: Dr Ben and Friends is your weekly dose of laughs and stories. We celebrate healthcare heroes and pro comics.

This is infotainment-- think popcorn, not prescriptions or medical advice.

If you're feeling funky, see your medical professional. Your health? That's on you. We'll stick to the punchlines.