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I'm a Podstar not a Doctor

Shariff K. Bishai & Danny Acevedo

Real docs. Real talk. Listen, laugh, and accidentally learn some shit.

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  • 22 episodes
  • Avg 39 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • October 14 · 36 min

    Wait, Are We Recording??

    Opa! This week we're talking to Ariana Gianakos. The conversation explores the experiences and initiatives of women in orthopedics, focusing on the importance of networking, mentorship, and addressing issues of harassment in the field. The conversation delves into the exciting intersections of medicine, personal experiences, and innovative ideas for connection. Arianna Gianakos shares her journey in foot and ankle surgery, her involvement with the Explorers Club, and her thoughts on balancing professional and personal life.

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  • October 7 · 59 min

    Doctor, Dentist, or Disappointment

    This week we're getting ALL the laughs out with former orthopedists turned comedian, Reesh Konda! It's a roller coaster of an episode to buckle up and get ready to laugh, be inspired, and wonder wtf we are talking about half the time...

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  • September 23 · 25 min

    Vroom Vroom

    This week we're talking spoilers on top of spoilers on top of spoilers! 16 year old car situations, more insurance bullshit, and American Pharaoh goes viral. What a week!

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  • September 16 · 33 min

    On a Scale from 1-7

    This week we actually use Bobby Digital as a resource instead of a punching bag! We're talking patient reviews, time management, and living the Podstar life...

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  • September 10 · 27 min

    Getting Messy

    Sometimes it feels nice to just get a little messy... It's a mismatch of topics this week - everything from choosing fighter characters, to Costco fashion, hazing stories, and robotic exoskeletons. Sit back, tune in, and enjoy the trainwreck in real time...

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  • August 19 · 42 min

    #blessed

    The boys are back from summer break, refreshed and somehow less focused than ever. Cuff Daddy and American Pharaoh catch up on vacations, golf struggles, ridiculous favorite purchases, and why sometimes stepping away is exactly what you need to remember how good life actually is. Then things get real. Danny and Shariff get into declining reimbursement, rising costs, insurance headaches, and why practicing medicine keeps getting harder even though they still love what they do. And naturally, it all ends with AI potentially destroying humanity, Matt Damon constantly needing to be rescued, and the beginning of the ultimate Podstars debate: Team Cuff, Team Pharaoh, or Team Bobby? Podstars is back. Let the chaos begin.

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  • July 2 · 16 min

    Snickers and a Coconut Water

    What happens when two orthopedic surgeons hit record with no agenda? You get an episode that bounces from golf swings to conspiracy theories, tech upgrades, work frustrations, and everything in between. This week, we take a break from the operating room to talk about life outside of medicine. From chasing a better golf game and debating the latest gadgets to discussing travel plans, summer schedules, and the constant challenge of finding balance, it’s a conversation that’s equal parts entertaining and relatable. Along the way, we dive into some surprisingly passionate discussions about food, nutrition, social media, and whether some of what we’re told about the food industry actually holds up. As always, expect plenty of laughs, a few hot takes, and the kind of off-the-cuff conversations that happen when the microphones stay on. Whether you’re here for the orthopedic insights, the golf obsession, or just to hear where the conversation goes next, this episode has a little something for everyone. In This Episode Why stepping away from work can be just as productive as grinding through it Golf season, improving your game, and the never-ending pursuit of consistency New tech, gadgets, and the upgrades worth making Travel plans and embracing a more flexible lifestyle Food preferences, nutrition, and some controversial opinions on the food industry Summer schedules and finding balance outside of medicine Spending habits, hobbies, and knowing when experiences are worth the investment Lessons learned from social media and content creation Why the podcast is taking a short break and what’s coming next Enjoy the episode, and don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who appreciates great conversations, questionable golf swings, and life beyond the OR.

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  • June 4 · 51 min

    This whole episode is AI...or is it?

    AI Isn’t Coming. It’s Already Here. AI is writing, creating, diagnosing, educating, and showing up in places most of us never expected. The question isn’t whether it’s changing healthcare. The question is what happens when doctors and algorithms don’t agree. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ali Giasi to talk about where AI is headed, what’s exciting, what’s terrifying, and why the future of medicine may look very different than most people realize. Some of it sounds incredible. Some of it sounds like a Black Mirror episode. In This Episode Will AI replace physicians or simply make them more effective? How avatars and virtual assistants could transform patient education The growing role of AI in surgical planning and clinical decision-making Why low health literacy may be one of healthcare’s biggest AI opportunities The promise and pitfalls of robotic surgery Who’s responsible when AI gets it wrong? The risks of overreliance on technology and losing critical thinking skills AI manipulation, cybersecurity threats, and unintended consequences What autonomous vehicles can teach us about trusting machines Why physicians should start learning AI now instead of waiting

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  • May 20 · 38 min

    Are We Peers?

    The conversation covers a range of topics including peer reviews, insurance companies, and the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. It also delves into the impact of insurance denials on patient care and the ethical dilemmas faced by doctors. The discussion highlights the frustration and disillusionment experienced by healthcare professionals due to the complexities of the healthcare system. The conversation covers various aspects of the healthcare system, insurance, medical care, and the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. It also delves into personal experiences and humorous anecdotes related to healthcare and life in general.

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  • April 29 · 24 min

    Guacamole Station...Custom

    This week we're talking ideal Masters victory dinners, Cuff Daddy leans hard into his latino side, and is this happening...are we pitching the Podstars Netflix sitcom???

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  • April 15 · 51 min

    Being Our Social Selves...

    This week we're talking to the Surgeon Coach, Mel Thacker, about the impact of overworking, setting well-defined goals, understanding the essential self vs. social self, finding happiness in the second curve of life, the importance of creativity in the second half of life, the pressure of external validation and imposter syndrome, navigating midlife crises, the role of vulnerability and relational competence in medicine, and the impact of fail safes and accountability in medicine. Oh yeah it's a busy one - and a fun one. Come get some insights!

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  • April 1 · 1 hr 8 min

    #OrthoMaxxing

    What does it mean to actually level up in medicine? In this episode of I’m a Podstar, Not a Doctor, The American Pharaoh and Cuff Daddy sit down with Dr. Nick Pappas to break down #OrthoMaxxing — the art of becoming a better surgeon, building a real presence, and navigating the chaos of modern medicine without losing yourself in the process. Nick shares how he built a following as a hand surgeon without sacrificing credibility, why most doctors are doing social media wrong, and how to balance education, entertainment, and authenticity in a world driven by algorithms.

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  • March 18 · 55 min

    That's a lot of blocks...

    We're talking to our old friend Mason - PA announcer for the Detroit Pistons this week! He's celebrating 25 years with the team and we're talking sports, AI, career paths, weird surgery shit, and just having a blast doing it all. The energy and laughs are infectous whenever he's around!

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  • March 4 · 33 min

    Podstar Conspiracy Files

    We're talking creative surgeries, our beautiful relationships with our dogs, and American Pharaoh goes deep down the rabbit hole in his own conspiracies this week...

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  • February 11 · 46 min

    Hustle Real Hard

    This week we talk to Earl Cooper of East Side Golf about his journey to success. The takeaways include the themes of perseverance and manifesting dreams. Earl Cooper discusses the expansion of his brand, Eastside Golf, and his love for the golf lifestyle. He shares his journey from Atlanta to New York and LA, his experiences playing at exclusive golf clubs, and his pinch-me moments meeting Michael Jordan and achieving significant milestones. Earl also emphasizes the importance of authenticity and building the brand, as well as the expansion of the golf market and hip-hop collaborations. Throughout the conversation, he reflects on success and humility, highlighting the impact of family and legacy.

  • February 4 · 53 min

    Cool Title, Now What?

    Medicine loves titles. Chair. President. Fellow. Society this. Board that. But when we asked Dr. Anthony Minniacci—President of the American Shoulder and Elbow Society—what he actually wants his legacy to be, the answer wasn’t what you’d expect. In this episode of I’m a Podstar, Not a Doctor, Tony talks candidly about the long game of medicine—from immigrant beginnings to leading one of the most respected orthopedic societies in the world. We get into why some of his shoulder implant ideas took 25 years to be taken seriously, how skepticism nearly killed innovation, and why leadership only matters if you’re willing to do the unsexy work. We also cover: Why chasing prestige is a trap How to build teams without ego What young surgeons misunderstand about success Balancing ambition without burning everything down And why titles fade, but impact doesn’t This one’s for anyone grinding, doubting themselves, or wondering if all the sacrifice is actually worth it.

  • January 14 · 30 min

    Emperor Penguin BFF

    Welcome to 2026. After some time off, family chaos, and whatever that weird stretch between Christmas and New Year’s actually is, The American Pharaoh and Cuff Daddy are back on the mics—catching up, resetting, and getting back into the rhythm of the show. This episode is exactly what it sounds like: Life updates Work updates What the break reminded us about medicine, burnout, and balance Why routine matters more than resolutions And why this pod works best when we just show up and talk No big agenda. No hot takes forced for the algorithm. Just two surgeons reconnecting, recalibrating, and easing back into the conversations that made I’m a Podstar, Not a Doctor what it is.

  • Dec 24, 2025 · 39 min

    The 5 Greatest Rappers of All Time...

    The conversation covers a range of topics including casual catch-ups, podcast introductions, banter, discussions about 50 Cent, online beefing, flight mishaps, TV shows, entertainment recommendations, Kamran's return, his book, healthcare optimism, ChatGPT, Diego Pavia's apology, and balancing family and work. The main takeaways include a sense of healthcare optimism and the challenge of balancing family and work. The conversation covers the challenges and rewards of private practice, the process of creating rap music, and its impact. It also delves into the humor in medical rap, the writing and producing of music, the concept of a social media cleanse, future projects and plans, and plans for collaboration. Takeaways Healthcare Optimism Family and Work Balance The challenges and rewards of private practice The process of creating rap music and its impact Chapters 00:00 Casual Conversations and Catching Up 05:02 The Cuff Daddy and American Pharaoh's Banter 10:24 Unfortunate Events and Making the Best of It 28:43 Kamran's Return and Catching Up 35:06 Identity and Iterations 41:36 Humor in Medical Rap 46:45 Social Media Cleanse

  • Dec 10, 2025 · 41 min

    Getting Gamified

    This week we're talking Kanye antics, gamifying surgery, speaking spanish, AI relatives, and so much more. Buckle up...we're getting weird this week!

  • Nov 26, 2025 · 24 min

    Thankful for the Haters

    What are we most thankful for? There are a lot of candidates but most of all, the Podstars are thankful for...the HATERS.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes