I allow myself to become a guinea pig for comedy (and science). Plus recs for Tommy Orange, Mary Beth Barone's new comedy special, and Michelle Alexander on MLK's guide to hope in despairing times.
I work as a standardized patient! It certainly isn't enough to pay the bills in my case, but it's a little extra money every month. I haven't had anything crazy happen just yet, but I'm also been doing a lot of virtual work, where there's less opportunity for awkward encounters. My favorite encounters are the ones where I have to be angry about something. The med students are nervous in the first place, and then here's a patient yelling at them, asking to see a real doctor. I'm happy to answer any questions about what I do.
I read the story about Tommy Orange going to the high school class in the Bronx earlier this week and it moved me to tears—And I hadn’t even read There, There! I am listening to it now and I too am moved by it. I think the reference to the teacher really got me. Orange, and his book, really touched everyone in that room.
I work as a standardized patient! It certainly isn't enough to pay the bills in my case, but it's a little extra money every month. I haven't had anything crazy happen just yet, but I'm also been doing a lot of virtual work, where there's less opportunity for awkward encounters. My favorite encounters are the ones where I have to be angry about something. The med students are nervous in the first place, and then here's a patient yelling at them, asking to see a real doctor. I'm happy to answer any questions about what I do.
I read the story about Tommy Orange going to the high school class in the Bronx earlier this week and it moved me to tears—And I hadn’t even read There, There! I am listening to it now and I too am moved by it. I think the reference to the teacher really got me. Orange, and his book, really touched everyone in that room.
This brings to mind the patient acting gig Kramer scored on Seinfeld - gonorrhea - he killed!
Chris, I listen to your podcast and had no idea you had a substack, so happy I stumbled upon it.
You should definitely write that sitcom!
What will your TED talk be about?
Well, the whole Standardized Patients story is one of the funniest true stories I've ever read. Now I'm settling in to watch MB Barone's special.
Thanks of everything in this post!
dear chris,
i love this!
beautifully put: "It’s an incredible world, one that I will certainly write a sitcom about one day."
love you!
myq
PS that story about the med student and the standardized patient is bananas.
thank you for sharing it.
please include it in your sitcom, and in everything else you ever create.