PD Lemonade

Brought together by the need to stay connected during the pandemic this group of 6 women, all with Parkinson's disease, share their experience. An international group, some of whom I met in Kyoto, Japan at the World Parkinson Congress. This is the first in a series with these lovely ladies.

Omotola Thomas is the founder of Parkinson's Africa, an organization dedicated to empowering Africans affected by Parkinson's disease. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2016, at 35. Born and raised in Nigeria, she has also lived in America, South Africa, and most recently, England. In this episode, Omotola and I discuss the joys and struggles that come along with raising awareness about Parkinson's disease all around the world.

Co-founders Richelle Flanagan and Sri Sripathy join me to discuss the launch of the Women's Parkinson's Project. After meeting at the World Parkinson Congress, we joined together to raise the voices of women in our community. We discuss what it means to be female in the world of chronic illness and how we hope to  empower others to find their voice.

Gaynor Edwards from Spotlight YOPD in the UK. Spotlight YOPD is  the first and only non-profit (charity) dedicated to Young Onset Parkinson's disease. We discuss what it is to be young and be female with Parkinson's disease. We talk life, joy and how it feels to manage a disease that affects more men that women and more old than young. Shared passions for advocacy, we also talk about the work we are doing to help women hav a voice in research and management.

This is take 2 on my interview with Jane LaFazio. We discuss her and husband Don's journey with his brain aneurysm and how they navigate their life together with love, compassion, resilience and art. Their story will inspire and bring awareness to the complexity of brain disease and the art of living a rich and vibrant life in partnership. I hope you will tune in.

I am honored to share an interview with Jane LaFazio. She is an artist, a mentor, an advocate, wife and caretaker. After her husband suffered a brain anerysm, their lives were tied upside down. She shares their story of life, love, longevity and resilience. Truly an episode you don't want to miss!

Melissa and I talk "life with PD" and how we work in advocacy. Our propitious meeting in a Kyoto, Japan instantly ignited a kinship for our work and for a growing friendship. She is a delight to speak with and I hope you will tune in to learn more about her organization.

Wrap up of Season 1 bringing back Janine Messenger and my partner in life Ken Hill to discuss emotional intelligence and navigating life in 2021. 

Advocate, writer, speaker, hunter of joy; Heather joins me to talk about advocacy work in the Parkinson's community.  She shares the ups and downs of putting out work in the public and keeping in real.

Fellow Davis Phinney Ambassador Lorraine Wilson joins me to discuss our shared passions - art, service and JOY.  As a retired professor Lorraine discusses her journey with Parkinson's and her practice of collecting through creativity and service.

Jane Miller, dancer, writer, boxer and fellow PD warrior joins me to discuss her special lemonade recipe.  She is always on the move and the first to lead us onto the dance floor, her spirit will inspire all who listen.

A speaker, advocate and business innovator Emma Lawton joins me to share what she has been up to recently.  Trying something new every day, starting a new software company and itching to get back to her stand up comedy, she shares her sparkle with our listeners.  She is one of the most uplifting people I have ever met and a source of great inspiration to many.  Learn more about her business check out www.more-human.co.uk.

Michelle is a friend and fellow person with YOPD with whom I share many interests.  Her love of making music, experience as a lounge performer, and preschool music teacher combined embolden her to share her vocal expertise with our community. We discuss our shared passions of service, joy and community and how we navigate the vocal challenges that can accompany our disease.

My guest Nancy Peate and I discuss how community plays a role in our wellness, the talk we presented in Kyoto, Japan about resilience, and a new project we are working on. We discuss the journey of being newly diagnosed to a new way of living well with Parkinson's disease.

On this podcast I talk with lifelong friend and consultant Janine Messenger from Heart Intelligent Business. We discuss friendship, the mind, and how sometimes life provides opportunities to learn powerful lessons. Hear Janine's delicious ideas to add to your toolkit of resilience. You can find Janine @heartintellegentbusiness.com

My husband of 30 years, Ken Hill, joins me to share how our 3 children were delivered, one by post. We share the humor found in our ups and downs. Ken shares his unique recipe for lemonade.

A introduction to making lemonade out of lemons after a diagnosis of Young Onset Parkinson's disease.