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WhoTim Smith, President and General Manager of Waterville Valley, New HampshireRecorded onNovember 12, 2025About Waterville ValleyClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: The Sununu FamilyLocated in: Waterville Valley, New HampshireYear founded: 1966Pass affiliations:* Indy Pass, Indy+ Pass: 2 days, no blackouts* White Mountain Super Pass: unlimited, no blackouts* Indy Learn-to-Turn: 3 days, includes rentals, lesson, lift ticket; limited lift access* Ski New Hampshire Kids Passport: 1 day with holiday blackouts* Uphill New England: no lift accessBase elevation: 1,984 feet (highest in New Hampshire, 3rd in New England)Summit elevation: 4,004 feet (2nd-highest in New Hampshire, 5th in New England)Vertical drop: 2,020 feet (4th-highest in New Hampshire, 14th in New England)Skiable acres: 265Average annual snowfall: 148 inchesTrail count: 62 (14% novice, 64% intermediate, 22% advanced)Lift count: 10 (1 six-pack, 1 high-speed quad, 2 triples, 2 doubles, 2 T-bars, 2 carpets)Why I interviewed himWell no one wants to hear this but we got to $300 lift tickets the same way we got to $80,000 pickup trucks. We're Americans Goddamnit and we just can't do stickshifts and we sure as s**t ain't standin' up on our skis to ride back up the mountain. It's pure agony you see. We need us a nine-pack chairlift with a bubble and a breakroom and a minibar and surround sound and Lazy-Boy seats and hell no we ain't ridin' it with eight strangers we'll hold back and take a whole chair to our ownselves. And it needs to move fast, Son. Like embarrass-the-Concord fast because God help us we spend more than 90 seconds with our own thoughts.I'm not aiming to get kicked out of America here, but if I may submit a few requests regarding our self-inflicted false price floors. I would like the option of purchasing a brand-new car with a manual transmission and windows rolled up and down with a hand-crank. I would like to keep pedaling my bicycle. I would like to cut the number of holidays with commercial mandates by 80 percent. I would prefer that we not set the air-conditioners to 60 when it's 65 degrees outside. This doesn't mean I want to get rid of all the air-conditioners but could we maybe take it easy on the frostbite-in-July overkill of it all?My Heretic Wishlist for American Skiing includes but is not limited to: more surface lifts, especially to serve terrain parks, high-altitude exposed terrain, and expert pods; on-resort lodging that does not still require a commute-by-personal-vehicle to reach the lifts; and thoughtful terrain management that retains ungroomed sections for skiers who like things about skiing other than going fast.Waterville Valley is doing all of these things. It is perhaps the only major American ski area in decades to replace a chairlift with a surface lift on a non-beginner terrain pod, and the only one to build two new T-bars this century. A planned gondola would connect Waterville Valley the town with Waterville Valley the ski area, correcting an only-in-America setup that separates these inseparable places by two miles of road. The glade network grows annually in both subtle and obvious ways.This is not a ski area going in reverse. Waterville is modern and keeps modernizing. The four-year-old Tecumseh bubble six-pack, though bookended with T-bars, is one of the nicest chairlifts in America. Skiers still go groomer-kaboom on morning cord. Suburban office-park dads with interstate commutes and a habit of lecturing the Facebook Commons about the virtues of snow tires can still park their 42-wheel-drive Abrams-Caterpillar-F-15,000 Tanktruck in sub-parking lot 42Z and walk uphill to the lifts. But Waterville Valley is one of a handful of American ski areas, along with Killington and Deer Valley and Winter Park, that is embracing all of our luxe cultural excesses while pursuing the very un-American ambition of putting more skiers close to skiing.No ski area is perfect. For all the cash saved on those T-bars, peak-day Waterville lift tickets still hit $145. The mountain's season pass is the second-most expensive single-mountain season passes in New England – more than a top-line Epic Pass (an adult WV pass includes a free pass for a kid age 6 to 12, which is great if you have one of those). That's bold pricing for the 22nd-largest ski area in New England, especially one that still spins three Stadeli chairlifts that predate the extinction of the dinosaurs. And two high-speed chairlifts is not a lot of high-speed chairlifts for a 2,000-vertical-foot ski area (though about half of New England's 2,000-footers run just two or fewer detaches).Yeah I know. Sick burn from someone who was waxing about surface lifts four paragraphs ago. I may have collected too many ski area Lego blocks in my mental bucket, and they don't always click together back here on planet Earth. “More villages,” I say while dismissing Aspen as a subsidized simulacrum of itself. “Big fast lifts rule,” I say while setting off fire alarms as first-generation chairlifts disintegrate and the cost of their most basic replacements escalates. “No-grooming, all-glades makes the best ski area,” I say, while condemning resort operators for $356 lift tickets that dam the masses. “Vail is too expensive,” I say. “Vail is too cheap,” I also say. “Modernize our chairlifts,” I say while celebrating the joy of riding an antique Riblet double. I endorse ski areas splitting off from conglomerates and ski areas joining them. These narratives can feel contradictory at best and schizophrenic at worst.But that tension is part of what draws me to lift-served ski areas, where two things central to my worldview – wild nature and human invention – merge. Or perhaps more accurately, collide. Both forces act at all times not only to extinguish one another, but themselves: above-freezing temps trash two feet of new snow; bad liftline management cancels out the capacity benefits of a $12 million lift upgrade. Making a ski area function, then, requires continual tweaking, of both the nuanced and look-at-us-press-release variety. A ski area is a business, sure, but that's almost a coincidence. The act of building and running a ski area is foremost an art, architecture, and engineering project that requires a somewhat madcap conductor to succeed. As with any artform, there is no one correct and final way to build a ski area. The variety is central to skiing's appeal. But there are operator/artist attributes - flexibility, inventiveness, consistency tempered by openness to change - that contribute to the overall quality and cohesion of the individual ski area experience in the context of competing ski areas. In the current version of Waterville Valley, we find one of our best contemporary examples of a ski area evolving toward the best version of itself under the stewardship of owners and managers possessing exactly these traits.What we talked aboutThe return of World Cup training and events to Waterville; drifting away from and back toward freeskiing culture; the best terrain parks in New England; why terrain parks are drifting away from mega-features; what happened to all the halfpipes?; and ramps?; no really no one wore helmets in the ‘90s; building terrain parks before institutional knowledge and the internet; the lost Hidden Valley, Wisconsin ski area; the rise of the high-speed ropetow; why Waterville replaced one T-bar and one Poma with a new T-bar (rather than a chairlift); why Waterville installed night skiing; the return of the Exhibition terrain park; self-installing the World Cup T-bar; Waterville's ops blog; why the Tecumseh Express sixer needed new bubbles after just a couple of seasons; why bubbles cost so much and how Waterville manufactured a less expensive one; Tecumseh's incredible wind resistance; MND lifts as an alternative to the two large U.S.-based lift manufacturers; a chairlift's “infancy” and how different 2020s lift technology is from early detachable tech; how Waterville's masterplan would reorient the mountain and skier traffic with an expansion and new lifts; Waterville's declining skier visits and whether that's a bad thing; how the resort's 1994 bankruptcy changed Waterville's trajectory; what stoked the Green Peak expansion; “we've been on a track to try to rebuild that energy we saw in the 1990s”; why Waterville turned away from discounting; “the right quantity of skiers on the right amount of surface”; building more terrain diversity; and a gondola connection from town to mountain.Should someone tell them they're running it backwards? Video by Stuart Winchester.What I got wrong* I said that the “High Country double chair was still standing” – what I meant was that parts of it were still in place. The top terminal remains, sans bullwheel, and the base terminal and motor room remain as a patrol shack:* I said that Waterville hadn't been known for terrain parks until recently, but Smith recalled that the ski area was more freestyle-centric from the ‘70s through the ‘90s, before pulling back during the first part of this century.* I said that 1,100 skiers per hour was “a little less than what a double chair would move,” thinking standard capacity for a double was 1,200 per hour. Smith says it is 900. Exact capacity varies from lift-to-lift, however. Lift Blog itemizes hourly capacities of between 800 and 1,200 for four of Smugglers' Notch's double chairs, between 1,000 and 1,200 for four of Mt. Spokane's fleet of Riblet doubles, and 1,000 for Waterville's Lower Meadows double. We all know, however, that the hourly capacity for a double chair is however many people are in line minus the number not paying attention minus singles who refuse to ride with anyone. So I don't know maybe 50.Podcast NotesOn other mentioned podcasts* World Cup competition returning to Sun Valley:* Heavenly backing out of mega-parks features:* Killington and the cost of bubbles:* Waterville part 1, from 2021:On Partek and each lift being differentOn Waterville's ownership historyFounder Tom Corcoran owned Waterville Valley from 1966 until 1994, when he sold to American Skiing Company (ASC) antecedent S-K-I. The feds made ASC dispense with Waterville and Cranmore when they merged with LBO Enterprises in 1996. Booth Creek (more on them below), bought the ski area and held it until 2010, when they sold it to the Sununu family. This makes Waterville one of just a handful of ski areas to ever enter a multi-mountain pass portfolio and then exit to independence - though Killington and Ragged recently did exactly that, and Eldora may follow.On Mt. Holiday, MichiganThis is just a little 200-footer, but it's still around on the outskirts of Traverse City, Michigan:That trailmap doesn't really communicate the ski area's essence. A little better are these pics I took on a summertime swing-through a few years back:I never skied there though, always preferring the far-larger Sugar Loaf, right down the road (which Smith and I also discussed):Until it was abandoned around 2000, this was one of the better ski areas in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. After a succession of owners - one of whom stripped all the chairlifts off the bump - failed to bring skiing back, the Leelanau Conservancy recently took ownership of the property. Skiing will return as an officially sanctioned activity, though unfortunately without a lift or snowmaking. I would have at least liked to have seen a ropetow. Here's their vision:On midwestskier.com Yes, Kids, the internet really did used to look like this:On Hidden Valley, WisconsinHere's a little ski hill that didn't make it. Smith spent time at Hidden Valley, Wisconsin, which opened in 1956 and closed forever in 2013. The chairlift appears to have been moved to nearby, county-run Kewaunee Winter Park, where it awaits installation.On high-speed ropetowsI am a huge fan of high-speed ropetows, which are a cheap and effective means to isolate users of terrain parks or other specialized, intensive-use zones from the broader ski area. Here's one at Spirit Mountain, Minnesota in 2023 (video by Stuart Winchester):On Waterville Valley's masterplanThis is perhaps the best angle of how Waterville's expansion would connect the legacy trail network to the town:Here's the Forest Service masterplan slide:Neither of these images, however, show how the gondola would eventually connect down into town, which is the crucial element of transforming Waterville Valley from a ski-area-that-says-it's-a-ski-resort into an actual ski resort. Here's a look at that connection:Waterville set up an excellent microsite detailing the hoped-for evolution.On Booth CreekAt the mid-90s height of American Skiing Company dominance, a former Vail executive assembled a cross-country ski area portfolio with ambitions of creating a hub-and-spoke network:Booth Creek ultimately sold off most of its properties, but still own Sierra-at-Tahoe. Grand Targhee GM Geordie Gillett was involved in the whole saga and broke it down for us in 2024:On Waterville going from one of the oldest lift fleets in New England to one of the most modernWhile Waterville runs some of the last Stadeli lifts in America (I count 16), the ski area has modernized extensively over the past decade:On U.S. Forest Service ski areas in the EastMost (109) of the 119 active U.S. ski areas on United States Forest Service leases sit in the West; two are in the Midwest, and eight are in the East: Bromley, Mount Snow, and Sugarbush, Vermont; Waterville Valley, Loon, Attitash, and Wildcat, New Hampshire; and Timberline, West Virginia. None, as far as I know, sit entirely within the boundaries of a national forest, but even partial overlap triggers the requirement to submit an updated masterplan each decade.The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe
Warning – This episode contains very strong language. Chris catches up with Ben Youngs to discuss his new BBC documentary about rugby and player safety. Through honest conversations with former players, medical experts, and teammates, Youngs explores the long-term impact of concussion and repeated head injuries. We hear Ben's powerful interview with Lewis Moody where he talks openly about living with MND, how it has affected his family and if he has any regrets from his playing days. Does the game still need to do more when it comes to head injuries and player safety? Sam Peters, author of ‘Concussed', who has spent over a decade investigating the links between rugby and neurodegenerative diseases also joins Chris to look at what more could be done to protect players, particularly in training? And what about the grassroots game? Is enough being done at that level to ensure there are adequate measures in place to protect against concussion? You can watch the full documentary ‘Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby?' on the BBC iPlayer.
When the Winter Paralympics get underway this weekend in Italy history will be made. Davy Zyw was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 30 and given 18 months to live… but he's now 38 and he's going to be the first person to compete at a Winter Paralympics with MND.Defying his degenerating body, Davy will compete on the board for ParalympicsGB, with his five-year-old son watching on. He joins Gabby to tell his inspiring story.Plus, we look back at the best bits from The Sports Agents this week - will the US-Iran conflict derail President Trump's World Cup? Have England pushed the Six Nations panic button and will it pay off? And what's it like to start a new football team from scratch in America's top league?
When the Winter Paralympics get underway this weekend in Italy history will be made. Davy Zyw was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 30 and given 18 months to live… but he's now 38 and he's going to be the first person to compete at a Winter Paralympics with MND.Defying his degenerating body, Davy will compete on the board for ParalympicsGB, with his five-year-old son watching on. He joins Gabby to tell his inspiring story.Plus, we look back at the best bits from The Sports Agents this week - will the US-Iran conflict derail President Trump's World Cup? Have England pushed the Six Nations panic button and will it pay off? And what's it like to start a new football team from scratch in America's top league?
This week's bonus podcast is a character profile of Dee-Dee Bailey, the hotshot solicitor who burst onto the cobbles in 2022 after being teased for nearly three years! In our opinion, she was well worth the wait, and in this episode we take a look back at her time on the Street - from her biggest storylines to our favourite moments along the way. We also chat about how Dee-Dee helped breathe new life into the Bailey family and quickly established herself as one of Corrie's most compelling new characters of the decade. From supporting Paul through his MND diagnosis to uncovering the dark secrets of her dodgy boyfriend Joel, Dee-Dee's time in Weatherfield was never short on drama. Join us as we celebrate the organised chaos, big heart and sharp mind that made her such a memorable presence on the cobbles.
In this episode we are talking about uncertainty and risk along with patient preferences for communication. Segment 1: The attitudes of individuals with or at risk of adult-onset genetic conditions on reproductive genetic testing: A systematic review Shanice Allen is a PhD student from the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) at the University of Sheffield. The aim of her research is exploring the attitudes and experiences of individuals with or at-risk of genetic MND on reproductive genetic testing, and explore how and if clinicians discuss these options with these individuals. This will help us identify any barriers to accessing reproductive services. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanice-allen-9a89661a5/ In this segment we discuss: - The attitudes toward reproductive genetic testing in adult-onset genetic conditions. - Experiential knowledge and perceived disease severity in shaping reproductive decision-making. - Ethical themes including guilt, eugenics, and concerns about pregnancy termination. - Findings supporting more tailored, longitudinal genetic counseling approaches. Segment 2: Assessing patient communication preferences for reclassified variants of uncertain significance in a general genetics clinic Eden Brush, MS, CGC is a pediatric and inpatient genetic counselor in the Division of Clinical Genetics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She completed her graduate training at Columbia University as part of the class of 2024. She is passionate about rare disease advocacy, narrative medicine, and disability justice. In this segment we discuss: - Patient communication preferences for reclassified variants of uncertain significance (VUS) and patient-driven practice insights - Factors that emphasize the utility of shared responsibility, the need for standardized recontact systems, and the importance of equity-focused implementation strategies. - How VUS reclassification type impacted patient-preferred disclosure methods. Would you like to nominate a JoGC article to be featured in the show? If so, please fill out this nomination submission form here. Multiple entries are encouraged including articles where you, your colleagues, or your friends are authors. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Dialogues! In the meantime, listen to all our episodes Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Dialogues”. For more information about this episode visit dnadialogues.podbean.com, where you can also stream all episodes of the show. Check out the Journal of Genetic Counseling here for articles featured in this episode and others. Any questions, episode ideas, guest pitches, or comments can be sent into DNADialoguesPodcast@gmail.com. DNA Dialogues' team includes Jehannine Austin, Naomi Wagner, Khalida Liaquat, Kate Wilson and DNA Today's Kira Dineen. Our logo was designed by Ashlyn Enokian. Our current intern is Stephanie Schofield.
The ASX 200 opened firm, slipped then rallied off lows as US futures stayed positive. We closed down only 4 points to 9022. Banks made a comeback, NAB up 1.0% with WBC up 1.5% and the Big Bank Basket up to $309.01 (0.3%). Financials elsewhere were smacked down on private equity fears, AI concerns and bears playing havoc post results. MQG dropped 3.6% on PE concerns, RPL rallied hard on better results, up 4.8% and NGI came under extreme pressure down 5.4%. MAF continued lower. ZIP fell another 6.4%. Insurers also fell, QBE off 1.6%. REITs too under pressure, GMG down 2.6% and SCG falling 1.1%. Industrials were mixed, WES down 1.8% and REA off 3.9% with tech under extreme pressure again, WTC fell 3.7% and XRO down 4.6% with the All-Tech Index down another 3.1%. Retail under pressure too, SUL off 2.5% and PMV falling 1.9%.Resources were generally firm. BHP hit record highs, up 1.4% with RIO slipping 1.1% on some broker downgrades, FMG up 1.1%. Golds firmed then slid slightly as bullion prices came off the boil, NST up 1.6% and EVN up 0.8%. Lithium stocks went nuts, PLS up 8.0% and LTR rising 8.7%. Oil and gas stocks rose, WDS results cheered, STO up 0.4% and uranium stocks mixed.In corporate news, MND pushed 5.9% higher on better than expected results, WDS managed a small rise after 24% drop in profits. NEC rallied 0.5% on numbers, VEA rose 8.1% after a stronger number. ARB had a shocker, falling 13.1% after a 17% drop in profits. KLS had a good day, up 7.8%, after announcing the sale of its tourism business.On the economic front, Australian consumer confidence rose 3.1 points last week to 80.2.Asian markets came back online with Japan up 0.9%. China up 1.3% and HK falling 1.9% US Futures slightly firmer. Nasdaq up 120 - S&P 500 up 22.—Marcus Today – Daily Market InsightsMarcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without the noise.If you'd like to go further:Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today http://bit.ly/mt-trial-podcastJoin Marcus Today Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offerMT20 – Managed ETF Portfolio A professionally managed portfolio run by Marcus Padley and the team, using ASX-listed ETFs with active market timing. http://bit.ly/mt20-podcastPrinciples – How We Think About Investing A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips. http://bit.ly/mt-principles-podcast—Disclaimer This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.
Parents in north London have been told their children could be excluded from school if they are not fully vaccinated against measles amid an outbreak of the highly contagious disease. We find out what's caused the latest outbreak.Also in the programme: In an interview with the BBC, Hillary Clinton accuses the Trump administration of a cover-up over Jeffrey Epstein. And musician Patrick Darling, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), has returned to the stage after artificial intelligence (AI) gave him his voice back.
Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling singer-songwriter Eric Paslay joins me to talk about about the night he drew my song idea out of a hat.Eric brought his unique songwriting experience, "Song In A Hat" to Hop On A Cure's "Harmony for Hope"" event and something magical happened there. My "Song In A Hat" idea was randomly drawn. This led to me joining musicians Eric Paslay, Kristian Bush, Chris Gelbuda, Cyndi Thomson and DJ Goodman on stage to witness my song idea turn into an actual song - in under just 10 minutes. My idea was "Come Into Our World." My intent was to have a song created that would invite others to understand ALS and join our fight for a cure. Here we learn more about this master of music, talk about that evening and how we can wrap up the song and release to the world. Eric has made a significant impact on the music industry with his hit singles "Friday Night", "Song About a Girl", and "She Don't Love You". He has written and co-written many hits for other artists, including Lady A, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Amy Grant, Dierks Bentley, Charles Kelley and more. Eric co-wrote Jake Owen's "Barefoot Blue Jean Night", the Will Hoge/Eli Young Band song "Even If It Breaks Your Heart", and Love and Theft's "Angel Eyes" all of which were number 1 singles on the country charts. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 10 years old, and uses his platform to advocate for diabetes awareness, inspiring and supporting others living with the condition.Listen in to our heartfelt and powerful conversation bursting with HOPE. Thank you for sharing with a friend.Follow and see what's coming next: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn.
Today, we take a closer look at motor neurone disease (MND), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting the motor neurones that control voluntary muscle movement. This programme explores the clinical features of MND, what it is like to live with the condition, how it is diagnosed, and the current approaches to treatment and management... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Salym Liufau, a 33-year-old mother of four living with ALS, whose grace and honesty have touched thousands online. Salym opens up about adapting to a body that's changing while holding tight to joy, purpose, and presence. We talk about motherhood in the face of uncertainty, the traditions she's building for her children, the legacy she hopes to leave behind, and the truths she feels called to share while she still can. This conversation is tender, grounding, and a powerful reminder to live with intention, love boldly, and never postpone what matters most. Salym is also an active member of Her ALS Story, a non-profit organization specifically for women diagnosed with ALS before the age of 35. Thank you for listening and sharing with a friend. Hugs, LorriFollow and see what's coming next: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn.
A Chinese takeaway was forced to close after thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to the shop.Police were called to the restaurant in Tunbridge Wells after a man went inside and lay down on the floor, before smashing up screens and equipment. Also in today's podcast, a group of doctors are calling for better resilience within NHS IT systems after a major outage affected GP surgeries across Kent.Medics were unable to access patient details, appointment lists or process prescriptions on Monday and health bosses say it's led to a huge backlog. A councillor who struggles to speak after developing motor neurone disease is using pioneering AI technology to communicate using his own voice.Nick Varley, who represents Kippington on Sevenoaks district and town councils, made recordings of himself speaking, which were used to train the AI to produce an accurate copy of his voice.Protesters held a large banner demanding “Keep your hands off Rays Bottom” as they voiced their anger over plans for a new housing estate.More than 300 letters of objection have been lodged in little over a month against proposals to build 75 houses on farmland near Deal.And an ice cream man who “gambled” on serving scoops when work dried up during the pandemic is in the running for a top national award. You can hear from the Rainham resident who runs Bossie's Ice Creams' who told us he's excited to have his hard work recognised. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Second opinions are an increasingly common request in healthcare and in this episode I look at reasons why people seek them and their pros and cons Links:Martha's rule: https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/marthas-rule/Hyponatraemia (low sodium): https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711Advice on second opinions: https://www.patients-association.org.uk/getting-a-second-opinionTumour Treating Fields: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/tumor-treating-fields.htmlLithium and MND doesn't work?: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/ioppn/records/2013/march/lithium-shows-no-benefit-to-mnd-patientsLithium and MND works?: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/centre-for-neuromuscular-diseases/research/experimental-clinical-trials/mnd/motor-neurone-disease-closed-trials/licals-therapeuticSave your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join Bruce for Wednesday Night Live for week two of Doddie Aid!My Name'5 Doddie Foundation Director of Research Jessica Lee will be joining Bruce to give us an update on where your fundraising goes in terms of research.Also, we are delighted to be joined by the one & only Davy Zyw! Davy, who was diagnosed with MND at just 30 years old, wants to become the first snowsports athlete with the condition to compete at the upcoming Paralympic Games. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/happiness-is-with-bruce-aitchison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After making a biblical-scale exit in this month's explosive Corriedale crossover, Dan Brocklebank joins us for a chat to reflect on his eleven years playing the Street's resident reverend, Billy Mayhew. Dan talks about finding out that he'd be meeting his maker in the crossover, shares what it was like to film Billy's exit scenes, reflects on the impact of Paul's MND story and gives us a look at some of the souvenirs he's kept from his time on Corrie. Also available as a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzWZPIXjj3M
Here we have a podcast produced by artificial intelligence discussing the recent publication “Design considerations for C9orf72 disease prevention trials”.
The onset of motor neurone disease (MND) left Sarah without a voice and the use of her hands at the age of 34. It was within months of her becoming a mum for the second time.As they were growing up, her children Aviva and Eric only ever heard her speak through a machine with an emotionless robotic voice.But 25 years on, artificial intelligence (AI) has recreated their mum's real voice from just eight seconds of audio on a scratchy VHS tape.Sarah speaks to the BBC with eye-gaze technology - which uses a camera to track her eyes as she looks at letters on a screen in front of her.Originally aired August 2025. Presenter: Emma Tracey, mixed by Dave O'Neill, Series Producer: Beth Rose, Editor: Damon Rose. Email accessall@bbc.co.uk
Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 16-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,723 on turnover of 5-billion N-T. The market closed lower on Tuesday after Wall Street fell overnight as heavyweight tech stocks lost ground from last week's big gains, but the downturn was limited due to government-led funds picking up large cap stocks to minimize volatility. MND highlights China's disinformation during large-scale drill The Ministry of National Defense's Political Warfare Bureau says it identified 46 pieces of disinformation related to China's military exercise on Monday and Tuesday. According to the bureau, the disinformation mainly focused on attacking the Lai administration's policies, slandering (誹謗) the armed forces, and eroding (逐漸毀壞) trust in the United States. Defense ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang says that every major Chinese military exercise since August 2022 has combined military and non-military actions aimed at influencing public opinion here in Taiwan, as well as in neighboring countries and Taiwan-friendly countries. President Lai Ching-te urged the public in a social media post to be mindful of disinformation accompanying the exercise. Lawmakers pass law amendments to Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act Lawmakers have passed amendments to the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act. The revisions increase penalties for for high-value fraud and also offer sentence reductions for offenders who voluntarily surrender to authorities and pay full restitutions (歸還,賠償) to their victims. Under the amended Act, judicial and prosecutorial authorities are also authorized to notify financial institutions and virtual asset service providers to flag bank accounts, e-payment accounts, credit cards and virtual asset accounts suspected of being linked to fraud. And the amendments also add new penalty tiers (等級). Those found guilty of high-value fraud exceeding 10-million N-T face a prison sentence of up to 10-years While for fraud cases exceeding 100-million N-T, the statutory prison term has been increased to 7 years. Trump confirms US has bombed Venezuelan port, adds new sanctions US President Donald Trump says the US has struck an alleged drug loading dock inside Venezuela, marking the first strike on Venezuelan soil in his months-long pressure campaign against the government of Nicolas Maduro. Toni Waterman has more from Washington. Italy Approves 2026 Gov Budget Italy's Parliament has approved the government's 2026 budget, which includes deficit-cutting measures. The budget aims to reduce the 2026 deficit to 2.8% of GDP, aligning with the European Union's demands. Premier Giorgia Meloni's conservative coalition won the final vote on Tuesday. Meloni describes the budget as serious and responsible, focusing on families, work, businesses and health care. However, the center-left opposition criticizes it for not addressing poor salaries and high taxes. About 25% of the budget's funding comes from the financial sector, with tax hikes on banks and insurance companies. The European Central Bank warns these levies (課稅) could reduce credit flow. Germany bank Theft Police in Germany say thieves stole tens of millions of euros worth of property from safety deposit boxes inside a bank vault that they drilled into during the holiday lull (暫時平靜[). Some 2,700 bank customers were affected by the theft at the bank branch Monday in Gelsenkirchen. Investigators believe the theft to be worth somewhere between 10 and 90 million euros. German news agency dpa reported that the theft could be one of Germany's largest heists (搶劫). That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn
Peter Chambers is a filmmaker living with MND. In this episode, we discuss his film I Choose Happiness, which won the most online votes at the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival this year.
Through 13 years with motor neurone disease, AFL legend and Big Freeze founder Neale Daniher has honed a remarkable philosophy for living. Today, we hear his message in Neale’s own voice, brought to life by AI technology. Read more about this story, plus see photos, videos and additional reporting, on the website or on The Australian’s app. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey with Kristen Amiet and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, Stephanie Coombes and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this second part of my chat with 33-year-old widow Melanie Lang, we talk about her & her husband Tyler's biggest miracle, their daughter. Tyler only spent 6 weeks with his precious baby girl before he died of ALS at a young 33.Melanie's perspective & big heart shines through as she talks about using their platform “Don't Waste A Day” to help other families in Tyler's memory. Her family will be raising funds to send ALS families on vacations that they wouldn't experience otherwise. To learn more about Melanie's first “Don't Waste A Day” event, visit here: https://www.dontwasteaday.org/Listen in & share with a friend. If it's on your heart, leave a review to help others find this sweet message. Hugs, Lorri Follow and see what's coming next: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn.
The Wahls Protocol is a diet that may reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Although these are plausible mechanisms for slowing ALS progression, we discuss the fact that there are no actual data to support this hypothesis, and there are risks which are especially important to consider in people living with ALS.
Alex King came into studio to highlight the challenges his mum faces living with MND and to talk about the music he has written for her.
Psychologist and writer Tony Bates and his old pal Denis Cagney join Brendan to talk about reconnecting more than 50 years after first striking up a conversation at school. Denis and Tony share the wisdom that comes with age and their life experience. They talk about what their friendship means now, and Denis shares the reality of living with MND.
Psilocybin is a psychedelic chemical derived from mushrooms. It is under study for mood problems in people with ALS. Here we review its plausible mechanisms for slowing ALS progression. But there are no data from preclinical models, trials or case reports that currently support this benefit. And there can be serious risks to using this chemical.
This Veterans Day episode brings together three service members living with ALS—Liz Fassler (Army), Ron Faretra (Air Force), and John Hudacek (Army)—to share how the discipline, teamwork, and purpose they learned in uniform now guide them through life with this disease. They talk candidly about the realities of ALS, the unique challenges and resources available to veterans, and the importance of building a strong support team. Through stories from the field and insights from daily life, they offer both practical guidance and a reminder that courage doesn't end when service ends—it evolves. Thanks for listening and sharing with a friend. Hugs, LorriFollow and see what's coming next: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn.
Former England ruby captain Lewis Moody recently revealed he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), and our conversations give an insight into how lives can be overturned by this muscle wasting condition. Dr Mehboob in Canada was diagnosed five years ago and is now paralysed from the neck down. He is joined in conversation by his wife, Sophie, and Evy in Belgium, whose dad died last year 46 years after his diagnosis. MND is incurable. Over time, muscles weaken, affecting movement, speech eating and breathing. People over 50 are most likely to get the disease but there is evidence that elite athletes are also disproportionately affected. We bring together Narayana in India with James and Gillian in the UK, who were all diagnosed in their 30s, to share their experiences of living with the condition.
It's all change for Steve Borthwick's England ahead of the Autumn Nations Series. Tom Willis has announced his move to Bordeaux, ruling him out of international rugby duty, whilst his Saracens peer Noah Caluori burst onto the scene with FIVE tries against Sale.Meanwhile, Dan Cole and Ben Youngs salute the retiring Emily Scarratt, analyse the Leinster v Munster thriller at Croke Park, and pay tribute to their former teammate Lewis Moody following his MND diagnosis.
Here we review ashwagandha a nutritional supplement that has plausible mechanisms for slowing ALS, promising pre-clinical evidence, and a reasonable safety profile. There is one person with ALS who experienced a reversal of symptoms on a cocktail of treatments that included ashwagandha. Cases like this are difficult to interpret as there can be multiple explanations for a person experiencing an ALS reversal. We have not found any other cases suggesting improvement on this product. We hope to see the data from the completed phase 2 trial soon.
Rugby icon Kevin Sinfield joins Brad to talk purpose, resilience, and leadership that holds up under pressure. He explains how supporting the MND community gave his life a new mission, why he chose seven marathons in seven days, and how he keeps competition healthy, competing with himself while protecting family time. You'll hear practical frameworks: chunking big goals into the next three hours, the “make the start line tomorrow” mantra, and a daily 30-minute habit that compounds. Kevin also breaks down the three traits of leaders people love to follow: humility, high standards, and courage, and the best advice he ever received: to be a champion, be a champion at home first.Subscribe for more conversations on performance, purpose, and building a life that wins the right way.About Kevin Sinfield:Kevin Sinfield is a legendary rugby player and coach whose second act has inspired the world. Known for his record-setting charity challenges, like seven marathons in seven days, he's raised millions for the motor neuron disease (MND) community in support of his friend Rob Burrow. On and off the field, Kevin is recognized for values-driven leadership, relentless consistency, and the belief that true victory starts at home.About Brad SugarsInternationally known as one of the most influential entrepreneurs, Brad Sugars is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the #1 business coach in the world. Over the course of his 30-year career as an entrepreneur, Brad has become the CEO of 9+ companies and is the owner of the multimillion-dollar franchise ActionCOACH®. As a husband and father of five, Brad is equally as passionate about his family as he is about business. That's why, Brad is a strong advocate for building a business that works without you – so you can spend more time doing what really matters to you. Over the years of starting, scaling and selling many businesses, Brad has earned his fair share of scars. Being an entrepreneur is not an easy road. But if you can learn from those who have gone before you, it becomes a lot easier than going at it alone.Please click here to learn more about Brad Sugars: https://bradsugars.com/Learn the Fundamentals of Success for free:The Big Success Starter: https://results.bradsugars.com/thebigsuccess-starter
The Go Radio Football Show: 14th of October, 2025. Join host Paul Cooney alongside Celtic and Motherwell Hero Andy Walker and Rangers and Aberdeen Hero Richard Foster in Association with Burger King. This is a catch-up version of the live, daily Go Radio Football show. Don't miss it – PLAY and HIT SUBSCRIBE, and NEVER miss an episode! Rangers' Managerial Merry-Go-Round: With just days before the Premiership resumes, the Rangers manager saga continues. Steven Gerrard is out of the running, and Kevin Muscat emerges as the frontrunner. The panel dives into the implications, including Neil McCann's potential interim role and why Gerrard may have backed out. Muscat vs. Martin: The team debates whether Kevin Muscat's fiery style is what Rangers need after the calm but controversial tenure of Russell Martin. Is Muscat the right man to reignite the squad? Celtic's Conundrum: Brendan Rodgers' future at Celtic is under the microscope. With a disapointing transfer window and fan unrest, the panel discusses whether Rodgers can turn things around and who might be waiting in the wings. Scotland's World Cup Hopes:Despite two wins, Scotland's recent performances raise eyebrows. The team analyses Steve Clarke's tactics, player form, and what needs to change ahead of crucial qualifiers against Greece and Denmark. Vision Scotland Competition: £2,500 Winner Revealed! Listener James from Cumbernauld cracks the code and wins the big prize in the “Pitch Perfect” competition. Hear the moment he nails the final mystery voice and celebrates his win! Hearts on the Rise Can Hearts sustain their top-table form? With new investment and dramatic wins, the conversation turns to whether they can split the Old Firm or even challenge for the title. Domestic Weekend Preview Key fixtures including Kilmarnock vs Hearts, St Mirren vs Aberdeen, and Rangers vs Dundee United. Who's poised to climb the table and who's under pressure? MND Charity Walk Andy Walker shares heartfelt stories from his 53-mile walk across Scottish clubs, raising £35,000 for MND charities. The Go Radio Football Show, weeknights from 5pm-7pm across Scotland on DAB, Online, Smart Speaker and on the Go Radio App. IOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/go-radio/id1510971202 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.thisisgo.goradio&pcampaignid=web_share In Association with Burger King. Home of the Whopper, home delivery half time or full time, exclusively on the Burger King App https://www.burgerking.co.uk/download-bk-app. Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok For more Go Creative Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...
Vicky Gomersall is joined by Charlie Wyett, Jonathan Northcroft and The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke to reflect on the weekend's sporting action.We begin with looking at the pressure Ange Postecoglou is under. Jonathan questions whether Forest are worried about league position and want solidity. Charlie is surprised some of the fans have turned on Ange already. What's gone so wrong for Ange? We then turn to England news, firstly to Jude Bellingham and the criticism he has received for his lack of presence with the press; Charlie questions whether he would be a good future England Captain but considers Declan Rice a better candidate. Then to Elliot Anderson, and Jack praises how natural he looks in a position so important to Tuchel's side ahead of the World Cup. And on the UEFA committee's meeting to revive interest in the International break, we ask whether the no-jeopardy games are too boring.We also look at The Telegraph's story that Strasbourg have turned into a Chelsea feeder-club. Jonathan explains the fans' reason to protest; how multi-club ownership can affect the lesser clubs involved and how the fans believe their identity is being diluted. Next, news that Barcelona want to sign Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal; Jonathan believes £25m is a great price in today's market for the Spanish side, but bad-selling business from Man United. We move on to Mo Salah's current form; Jack considers last season's Liverpool playing to Salah's strengths, whilst this year transitioning with Slot's new signings and tactics.We then explore the story that Europe's elite clubs answer to nobody as they carve up football's billions. Jonathan criticises the distribution of funds, with £6billion coming in for Champions League sides, but lesser clubs not getting parity with very little filtering down to clubs missing out. And finally, we conclude this week's pod on a sombre note, with the sad news that England Rugby star Lewis Moody is diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease. Running Order:3mins – Ange Under Pressure20mins – England News38mins – Downside of Multi-Club Ownership42mins – Rashford permanent Barca deal?57mins – Europe's elite clubs carve up football's billions61mins – Lewis Moody diagnosed with MND
In this edition of The Naked Scientists: Is elite level sport linked with Motor Neurone Disease? We examine the evidence as another top player announces his diagnosis. Also, cages that can sieve out molecules, the immune system peacekeepers; and the quantum realm: we look at this year's Nobel Prizes for science. And, how did birds react to the Great American Eclipse last year? Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Gabby and Mark answer all of your questions from building their 'dream athlete' and their favourite Match of The Day moment so far, to England winning a home Rugby World Cup and the Ryder Cup crowds.Plus, we look back at this week on The Sports Agents. Double Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas joined us in the studio to talk about how recent pro-Palestinan protests might change the future of cycling. Former Bournemouth Chairman, Jeff Mostyn, discussed saving the club and whether Eddie Howe is England manager material. And after former England rugby captain Lewis Moody announced his motor neurone disease diagnosis Professor Dame Pamela Shaw explained whether or not there is a link between exercise and MND.
Motor neurone disease is a devasting condition that's recently come to prominence in the media with the diagnosis of former English rugby captain Lewis Moody. Another famous person who suffered from the condition was Stephen Hawkins. What is motor neurone disease? It's a progressive nerve disease. It damages and kills nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain that control muscle movement in the body. The damaged nerve cells mean the brain can no longer signal muscles in the body. Muscles slowly lose the ability to function. Why does it occur? The exact cause is not fully understood. It's thought that up to 10% of cases are inherited and related to a patient's genes, while 90% are random with no clear genetic cause. Several things may be important: Abnormal accumulation protein in the nerve cells, destroying them. A possible inflammatory or immune system malfunction. Possible environmental factors like exposure to heavy metals or pesticides, however there's no clear evidence. What are the symptoms? It's difficult to diagnose initially with subtle changes: clumsiness in hands, slurred speech, tiredness. As time goes on, the main issue is weakness in the arms, legs, and hands – the person gradually losing the ability to use them. Speech and swallowing become difficult. Breathing problems as the muscles around lungs weaken. There can be mood swings. Can it be treated? Unfortunately, it is incurable. On average, patients live 2 to 5 years. Stephen Hawkins was an example of someone who actually lived with it for much longer – he was diagnosed at age 22 and lived to 76, which is very unusual. There are some experimental drugs that may slow progression that are being looked at. However, most treatment is supportive – trying to improve the person's quality of life. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gloucester's first half horror show ended up costing them despite a heroic comeback in the second half against Northampton. Trailing at one point 31-0, the Cherry and Whites ended up leading the former Champions by a point going into the final 10 minutes only to lose from a late penalty kick. We discuss the game, the overall disappointment and how the second half performance can't cover up the deep concern around injuries, defence and the breakdown woes. The lads also touch on the incredibly sad and tragic news that England World Cup winner and former Captain, Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with MND.Ed PriceJim HarleyJames Eastwood (Snowy)Russ BrookesCherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP
DiscourseSupport the show, and get way more fascinating insight than the Bros deliver on the pod! Everything in Spotlight is discussed, dissected and debated on Discourse, and membership is judge a small monthly pledge awayShow notesIt's a Bro-Science discussion today, as listener David inspired debate with a post on his epic Zone 2 indoor ride, and got us thinking - how do we spot Bro Science? Is it all bad? What are the alarm bells that should make us cautious, and how can we learn from the experiences and anecdotes of other people while staying credible. That's our Center Stage topic (47:45).Before that, we whip around the world for a Discourse Digest (1:38) that looks at NCAA 'trafficking' in Kenyan athletes, a win-win, but also maybe a loss for some. We talk Caster Semenya's off-now-on case to fight for inclusion into women's sport, and explore why it's about male advantage, not natural advantage. We also visit rugby, where head impacts and concussions are the focus of a big new study, a new player load guideline, and a link with neurodegenerative diseases in the wake of sad news of Lewis Moody's MND diagnosis.In Ross Replies (1:05:45), Gareth asks about training when fatigued, inviting discussion about the body's physiological resource budget, and how we spend it on stress as opposed to recovery. Listener Lens (1:11:41) fields another listener question, this time from Gianni, about the importance, or necessity, of breakfast before training. And Finally (1:14:52), Tua Tagavailoa has been advised that to prevent concussions, he needs more carbs. It's an idea detached from both reality and theory, but we discuss how it might have come about, and how ideas without basis become entrenched by unquestioning media and public.LinkChris Chavez post about NCAA RecruitingDW article on Semenya's legal caseThe entertaining LetsRun article on Tokyo 2025The large NZ study on neurodegenerative disease in rugby playersWorld Rugby's Load GuidelinesFormer guest James Smoliga's article on Tua Tagavailoa's sugar-concussion prevention belief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former England teammates Mike Brown and Jonny May join the dream team for a revealing chat on the intense world of professional rugby. Brown, fresh from retirement and a corporate career change, offers candid insights into the psychological toll of the professional game, and the lads debate contrasting experiences under Eddie Jones. May and Brown also reveal the ups and downs of their volatile relationship on and off the field, including a training ground injury that ended in 11 stitches. Finally, the pair get stuck into an England selection debate ahead of the Autumn Nations Series. 00:00
This week on The Rugby Pod, the lads send their thoughts and support following the very emotional news as England legend Lewis Moody reveals his MND diagnosis. Everyone on the Pod wishes him, and his family the very best during this very tough time, and we're here to support in any way we can. On the pitch, the lads react to the news that Steve Diamond sacked by the Newcastle Red Bulls, with Gregor Townsend joining in a surprise advisor role. We also break down the action from the Rugby Championship and what it means for the upcoming Autumn Internationals. Can Scotland finally beat the All Blacks? Can Ireland back up their Chicago heroics? Will England perform. Plus, there's a full round-up of the URC and Prem, with the Dragons finally breaking their losing streak, Leinster slipping again, and Saracens running riot. Plus, the lads give a big shoutout to Rugby FC for a brilliant day out. Settle back, enjoy, and make sure you're subscribed on Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In September, former England rugby captain Lewis Moody received a devastating diagnosis that changed his life forever. The 47-year-old Rugby World Cup winner is the latest retired professional player to be told he has the fatal muscle-wasting condition motor neurone disease. What do we know about the possible causes of MND? Is there a link between extreme exercise and developing the disease? And are we any closer to a cure? Niall is joined by Moody's World Cup-winning team-mate Will Greenwood and Dr Mike Rogers, director of research and innovation at the MND Association. Producer: Tom Gillespie and Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill
Gareth Rhys Owen is joined by former Wales wing Alex Cuthbert and ex-Ospreys head coach Sean Holley to discuss the weekend's United Rugby Championship (URC) results.Dragons finally put an end to their URC losing streak but Cardiff and Ospreys both suffered defeats, while Scarlets' match was postponed due to Storm Amy.We also hear from former Scotland captain and motor neuron disease (MND) campaigner Rob Wainwright following ex-England captain Lewis Moody's MND diagnosis.
Welcome to Monday's Rugby Daily with David Wilson.Coming up, Leinster face the music as the Lions are welcomed back.Connacht switch focus from the Scarlets to Cardiff.Munster CEO Ian Fitzgerald hits back at transfer dealings.And tributes paid to English World Cup winner Lewis Moody who has been diagnosed with MND.Rugby on Off The Ball with Bank of Ireland | #NeverStopCompeting
2003 World Cup winner Lewis Moody has announced that he has motor neurone disease, so, Alex Lowe and Stuart Barnes join Alfie Reynolds to pay tribute to a great man and brilliant player. Tom Kershaw also discusses his investigation for The Times earlier in the year where he looked into the links between elite sportspeople and MND. They also look back on the second weekend of the PREM and ask whether Newcastle were correct to part ways with Steve Diamond and if it's too early to view Bath and Saracens as the best two clubs in the division. It was the opening weekend for the CHAMP which saw the return of Worcester Warriors, their back-rower Matt Kvesic chats to Alfie and Alex. And, Stuart explains why 2025 was the best Rugby Championship we've ever seen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former England captain and 2003 World Cup winner Lewis Moody has revealed that he's been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).What is motor neurone disease, what are the symptoms, how is it diagnosed, and can sport cause the condition?We join UCL's professor of clinical neurology, Andrea Malaspina.Professor Malaspina is also clinical and academic lead of the Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre.Also in this episode:The world's leading AI event, HumanX, is officially coming to Europe in 2026The Big Issue partners with tech company Lenovo to equip charities with laptopsStorm Amy: Thousands of homes remain without powerThe Andrew Law Gallery at Manchester's Science and Industry Museum reopens this October Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. Johnathan Cooper-Knock is a neurologist and clinical lecturer at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on genetic causes of ALS. Here he discusses his recent publication “Extreme exercise in males is linked to mTOR signalling and onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”.
Here we review Zinc supplements as a treatment for ALS. These are inexpensive, reasonably safe at certain doses, and are easy to acquire. They have plausible mechanisms by which they could slow ALS progression. However, the data from people living with ALS is not very convincing yet.
This episode follows the powerful and unexpectedly uplifting story of Jake Popyura, a musician and multi-instrumentalist in the indie rock band Supermilk, who was diagnosed with ALS at just 38. Rather than despair, Jake felt relief—finally understanding the cause behind years of unexplained symptoms. As his physical abilities shift, Jake and his bandmates have chosen adaptation over retreat, pouring their energy into their recent album Lazy Teenage Boasts. Balancing terminal illness, mental health challenges, and a relentless creative drive, Jake leans into dark humor and online community to navigate the journey. His story is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and finding meaning through music in the face of life's harshest realities. Thanks for listening. Hugs, LorriFollow and see what's coming next: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn.
Motor Neurone Disease is a condition that affects nerves found in the brain and spinal cord which tell our muscles what to do. The disease is life shortening and there is no cure. One listener, Diana Keys, was diagnosed in May 2023. She tells us about her experience and asks why does representation of MND in the media skew so heavily towards men? Diana is joined by Dame Pamela Shaw, an academic neurologist and world-leading researcher in MND.Listener Sally Ruffles describes herself as a 68 year old woman with one daughter and no grandchildren. She got in touch with Woman's Hour for Listener Week to say: "There's this common assumption that having grandchildren is always a wonderful thing. But nobody really stops to think that not having them might also be okay—or even a positive thing for some people." She joins Nuala with her daughter Hannah, who persuaded her mother to write to Woman's Hour, to discuss why it can be difficult to talk about not being a grandparent. We talk to women living full time on the UK's waterways. Charlotte Ashman is an artist and print maker and Jo Bell is a writer and former UK Canal Laureate. They tell us about their lives, their work and the pros and cons of narrowboat living.Have you ever thought about going back to school? Recent graduates Sue Goldsmith & Rahat Ismail both returned to studying later in life. They join Nuala to discuss what took them back to education and the value of lifelong learning.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Emma Pearce
Former Mayo star Keith Higgins spoke to John Duggan about his late brother Pierce, who passed away from MND in 2023On Sunday July 27th, there is a 'Shoulder to Shoulder' walk in aid of those suffering from ALS, the most common form of Motor Neurone Disease. The walk is taking place at 9am at St Brigid's GAA Club, Croghan, County Offaly. Former All Ireland winners with Galway, Joe Bergin and Michael Meehan are part of the organising team and it's being supported by the likes of Galway GAA, Leinster Rugby and Connacht Rugby.If you can't make the walk, you can support via iDonate, with all funds going to Research Motor Neurone.
The emotional aftermath of losing someone to ALS is a journey rarely discussed but vitally important to understand. Caroline, Jill, Jenny, and Deb—four remarkable women who lost husbands and a sister to ALS—share their paths through grief toward finding purpose and even joy again. Years after their losses, these women formed "Antiques Roadshow for ALS," a cycling team of women over 60 who donned pearls, vintage clothing, and tutus while raising over $28,000 for ALS TDI's research. Their stories reveal the complex reality of grief—how it never truly ends but evolves into something you learn to carry alongside new experiences and memories. These women candidly discuss experiencing depression, anxiety, and PTSD years after their losses, normalizing these ongoing struggles while demonstrating that healing doesn't mean forgetting. For those currently caregiving or recently bereaved, their stories offer a glimpse into a future where community, purpose, and even joy remain possible. Enjoy the listen and thanks for sharing with a friend. Hugs, LorriFollow and see what's coming next: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn.