‘Keith and The Girl’ Host Copes With News of 4.5 Pound Tumor Through Podcasting

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Collage created using TurboCollage software from www.TurboCollage.com

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Long-term podcaster Chemda Khalili is handling a recent, horrifying prognosis the only way she knows how: by talking about it.

An incredibly rare, four and a half pound tumor was found engulfing Chemda’s heart and lungs last August after she had complained of a bad cough.

A spinoff of Chemda’s decade-old popular NYC-based podcast “Keith and the Girl” called “What’s My Name” was already a theme-based talk show hosted by Khalili, but will now operate in reverse with guests interviewing her as she navigates the health care system. The show was pitched by Chemda’s friend and “KATG” booker Libby Phillips as a way to talk about the news and her feelings in detail and that evolved into a multi-episode series.

“I process things by talking about them,” Chemda says, “I didn’t know how to feel about this news, I didn’t even know what this was, and people seemed curious so I decided to work through it on air.”

The series explores the reactions and coping methods of her friends and family, including her husband and estranged parents. Cancer scares and ensuing voyages with the logistics of medical care, weighing difficult, unpleasant options and the emotions around all of these details amidst a scary, awful time is a familiar process to many. Whether from direct experience or watching a loved one suffer, cancer is an experience many can rally around. The transparency and ability to talk about personal matters that is second nature to Chemda is a valuable asset to many in understanding the world and themselves. Chemda’s bravery has found huge support and a fundraising campaign can be found at YouCaring.com/TheGirl.

Donations have come in from comedy friends, including Marc Maron, Eugene Mirman, Todd Barry, Judy Gold, Ted Alexandro, Ophira Eisenberg, Chris Gethard, Myq Kaplan, Rory Albanese, Sara Benincasa, Mike Drucker, Jena Friedman, Gary Gulman, Janet Varney, Paul Gilmartin, Graham Elwood, Chris Mancini, Kevin Allison, Jackie Kashian, Laurie Kilmartin, Adam Conover, Pete Holmes, Hannibal Buress, among many others.

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Rachel Crowe

The most notable lies Rachel Crowe has ever told were that she has 10 children (no twins), she’s running a marathon retracing the path her ancestors took to evade the IRS and that she found childcare for 10 on a Saturday night. She’s also a stand-up comedian and dog walker living in Los Angeles. Follow Rachel on Twitter @Racheddar or on Instagram @thelma_and_disease. Or don’t, but at least appreciate those fresh hot puns.
Rachel Crowe

Rachel Crowe

The most notable lies Rachel Crowe has ever told were that she has 10 children (no twins), she’s running a marathon retracing the path her ancestors took to evade the IRS and that she found childcare for 10 on a Saturday night. She’s also a stand-up comedian and dog walker living in Los Angeles. Follow Rachel on Twitter @Racheddar or on Instagram @thelma_and_disease. Or don’t, but at least appreciate those fresh hot puns.