Adam Kay — the magic and misery of doctoring, comedy and fatherhood

May 6, 2025

Adam Kay, a former doctor turned comedian and author of 'This Is Going To Hurt', discusses his traumatic experiences in the medical field, particularly the emotional fallout from a tragic cesarean section. He humorously recounts how humor became his coping mechanism during medical training and how he transitioned into comedy and writing. Adam shares insights on balancing personal identity with professional duties and reflects on the transformative journey of fatherhood, embracing creativity, and the re-evaluation of life goals after leaving medicine.

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ANECDOTE

Discovering Identity Through Printed Stories

A schoolmate sold poorly written, printed gay erotic stories before the widespread internet.
This early experience helped Adam Kay realize his own sexuality and find early resources discreetly.

ADVICE

Doctors Need Rest to Care

Hospitals removing rest spaces for doctors harms patient care because tired doctors are less effective.
Ensuring doctors can rest during shifts improves safety and treatment outcomes.

ANECDOTE

Father's Delivery Room Mishap

Adam Kay shared a memorable delivery room incident where a father accidentally fell off a birthing ball, creating an emergency.
These unpredictable moments highlight how fathers can feel surplus to requirements during childbirth but still impact the experience.

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After a caesarean section on his labour ward went catastrophically wrong, Adam Kay took a radical inventory of his entire life. CW: traumatic childbirth, eating disorders.

Adam was not far off qualifying as an obstetric consultant in the United Kingdom, when he decided he couldn't be a doctor any longer.

He couldn't face ever again experiencing the tragedy of death during childbirth, nor could he understand the blunt response from his boss in the aftermath, and so he quit doctoring altogether.

After a period of grief and depression, Adam reassessed his goals, his dreams and his relationships, completely up-ending the conventional life he had felt backed into.

He turned to the diaries, which he had kept throughout his seven years working in hospitals, and became a stand-up comedian, then a television writer, an acclaimed author, the executive producer of a wildly popular TV series based on Adam's book, and most recently a father.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Conversations contains accounts of traumatic childbirth and of disordered eating, which may distress some listeners.

Help and support is always available. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Find out more about the Red Nose counselling services available to parents who have lost a child by calling the Red Nose Bereavement Support Line on 1300 308 307.

If you or someone you know needs help with disordered eating, the Butterfly National Helpline is available on 1800 33 4673.

This episode of Conversations explores studying medicine, the medical system, Medicare, overworked doctors, young doctors, junior doctors, obstetrics and gynaecology, delivering babies, careers, disordered eating, sexuality, marriage, LGBTQI+, fatherhood, surrogacy, mental health, comedy, touring, music, university life, should I study medicine.

This Is Going To Hurt is published by Pan Macmillan.

Undoctored is published by Hachette.

Adam's debut novel, A Particularly Nasty Case, will be published by Hachette in August.

You can stream the television series based on Adam's first book, This Is Going To Hurt, on ABC iView.

Conversations Live is coming to the stage! Join Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler for an unmissable night of unforgettable stories, behind-the-scenes secrets, and surprise guests. Australia’s most-loved podcast — live, up close, and in the moment. Find out more on the Conversations website.