Slava Siderman, better known to adult film fans as director Ivan, took to the Sickboy Podcast with hosts Taylor and Jeremie to discuss his recent health struggles and long road to self-care as a result of living with diabetes over the past few years.

In the episode “Making Porn & Fighting Diabetes”, the award-winning adult and horror filmmaker opens up about the psychological impact of chronic health issues, the complications that developed over time and the months-long stay in the hospital’s ICU, where he suffered kidney issues and nearly lost his entire leg. “I was telling everybody, ‘I’m going to be the best one-legged porn director in the world!’”

Siderman further explained that the painful procedures and stressful stretch he spent in the hospital served as inspiration for his films, and that the one upside to his ordeal is it gave him a “reality check that a lot of people take for granted… the bond with other people… and none of us are immune to anything.”

Of the hour-long podcast conversation, Siderman says, “I’m so happy to actually share my story of pain and reality of what we all will face eventually. I love talking about my struggles in hopes of someone learning from my life lessons.”

Listen to the Sickboy Podcast in full at CBC.ca, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.