
70 episodes

When Life Gives You Parkinson's Curiouscast
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- Health & Fitness
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4.6 • 24 Ratings
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When Life Gives You Parkinson’s is an honest, funny, and engaging podcast chronicling host Larry Gifford’s personal journey with Parkinson’s disease. Gifford, his wife Rebecca, and their son Henry live in Vancouver, British Columbia. Gifford has worked in radio for more than 30 years. In August 2017 he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 45. Now in its fourth season, When Life Gives You Parkinson’s is a first-hand account of what it is like to live with PD for Gifford, his family, and other members of the worldwide Parkinson’s community. Listeners also get the perspective of his wife and partner in Parkinson's each week, as his wife Rebecca Gifford replaced Niki Reitmayer as co-host of the podcast in 2020. Larry & Rebecca often veer into intimate chats letting listeners eavesdrop on their everyday life. Mr. Gifford uses humour to diffuse heavy content and give the podcast a hopeful tone. He gives voice to Parkinson’s experts and advocates from around the world and together they openly tackle tough topics. The authentic, frank conversations along with compelling storytelling is what makes this podcast interesting, informative, and enlightening. "Larry didn't get Parkinson's, Parkinson's got Larry - this podcast is a gift to the community." Dan D., Vancouver. Special thank you to our partners. Presenting partner is Parkinson Canada, content and promotional partner Spotlight YOPD, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Parkinson’s IQ + You,PD Avengers World Parkinson Congress #WPC2023 in Barcelona, Spain.
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Two women with Parkinson’s, 200 years apart
SUMMARY: In the book, “Mary & Me,” author Robyn Cotton draws upon her own experiences with Parkinson’s in a fictional novel based in contemporary times and early 1800’s London, England when Dr. James Parkinson was roaming the streets and noticing a condition, he called shaky palsy. Not often does Parkinson’s play such a key role in a fictional piece of work, Robyn’s journey grounds the book in near-real experiences as she and her characters struggle with the degenerative brain disease.
EMAIL Larry and Rebecca: ParkinsonsPod@curiouscast.ca
Have questions, comments, or a story idea? We would love you to click here and leave a message https://www.speakpipe.com/WhenLifeGivesYouParkinsons
Follow us, Larry & Rebecca Gifford
Twitter: @ParkinsonsPod
Facebook: Facebook.com/ParkinsonsPod
Instagram: @parkinsonspod
KEY LINKS
“Mary & Me” by Robyn Cotton – Buy it on Amazon
The BC Brain Wellness Program
Tightrope Theatre – “Playing with Words” workshops and the more intense “Express Yourself” six-week course with Rebecca Gifford are open for registration.
Thanks to
Dila Velazquez – Story Producer
Our Promotional Partners include:
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s? You are not alone. Contact presenting partner Parkinson Canada http://www.parkinson.ca/, call the toll free hotline 1-800-565-3000 or on Twitter you can message @ParkinsonCanada.
Thanks also to our content and promotional partners
The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast hosted by Larry Gifford as featured in the MJFF2021 Year in Review.
PD Avengers – We are building a global alliance to end Parkinson’s. Join us.
World Parkinson Congress 2023 – It’s time to start thinking about making your plans to join us for #WPC2023 in Barcelona, Spain for the sixth triennial congress.
Spotlight YOPD – The only Parkinson’s organization dedicated to raising awareness for Young Onset Parkinson’s disease and funds for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust. -
Spinning Wheels
Larry & Rebecca Gifford highlight two Canadians with Parkinson’s who are sparking awareness, raising money and building community by riding their bicycles across every Canadian Province over the next three months.
Jim Redmond and Steve Iseman take a break from pedaling to sit down with Larry at picnic table outside their RV on Day two of the journey when they stopped at the Capilano River RV Park in West Vancouver.
Thank you for listening. Add your voice to the show and leave a message for us here; https://www.speakpipe.com/WhenLifeGivesYouParkinsons
Follow us, Larry & Rebecca Gifford
Twitter: @ParkinsonsPod
Facebook: Facebook.com/ParkinsonsPod
Instagram: @parkinsonspod
Thank you to the following people and organizations featured in this episode:
Jim Redmond - LISTEN to Jim’s episodes from Season One
Parkinson’s Doesn’t Have to Be a Career Killer.
Hope, Fear, Frustration and Levadopa
Steve Iseman
Mike Loghrin
Darlene Richards-Loghrin
WANDA (The RV)
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s? You are not alone. Contact presenting partner Parkinson Canada http://www.parkinson.ca/, call the toll free hotline 1-800-565-3000 or on Twitter you can message @ParkinsonCanada.
Here is a link to Parkinson Canada’s “Together: No Matter What” campaign
Thanks also to our content and promotional partners
The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast hosted by Larry Gifford
Spotlight YOPD – The only Parkinson’s organization dedicated to raising awareness for Young Onset Parkinson’s disease and funds for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
PD Avengers – We are building a global alliance to end Parkinson’s. Join us.
World Parkinson Congress 2023 –Make plans to join us for #WPC2023 in Barcelona, Spain.
Credits
Dila Velazquez – Story Producer
Greg Schott – Sound Design -
Down Under | A Spark, A Warrior, and World Parkinson's Day
This is part one of three of a mini-series of episodes we are calling “Down Under.” Host Larry Gifford gets you ready for World Parkinson’s Day. Learn about the new international symbol for Parkinson’s disease named “THE SPARK” and how you can use it. Where to watch the world premiere of the new documentary “The Long Road to Hope: Ending Parkinson’s Disease.” The Parkinson Unity Walk in Central Park in New York City is going to take place April 23. IF you can’t make it, you can still participate, we’ll tell you how.
The featured guest is Founder of PD Warrior and the Insight into Parkinson’s virtual conference Melissa McConaghy, FACP. Melissa takes us behind the curtains of PD Warrior and gets us ready for Insight into Parkinson’s Conference.
We discuss stigma, self care, and neuro plasticity.
Thank you for listening.
EMAIL US: ParkinsonsPod@CuriousCast.ca
Have questions for Larry & Rebecca? Want to share how your conversations go with your partner? We would love you to click and call us here. https://www.speakpipe.com/WhenLifeGivesYouParkinsons
Follow us, Larry & Rebecca Gifford
Twitter: @ParkinsonsPod
Facebook: Facebook.com/ParkinsonsPod
Instagram: @parkinsonspod
KEY LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE
Documentary: The Long Road to Hope | Ending Parkinson’s Disease
The Spark www.WorldParkinsonsDay.com
PD Warrior www.PDWarrior.com
Insight into Parkinson’s www.PDWarrior.com/insight-into-PD
Unity Walk – www.unitywalk.com
Mediflix – www.mediflix.com
Thanks to
Dila Velazquez – Story Producer
Greg Schott – Sound Design
Our Promotional Partners include:
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s? You are not alone. Contact presenting partner Parkinson Canada http://www.parkinson.ca/, call the toll free hotline 1-800-565-3000 or on Twitter you can message @ParkinsonCanada.
Thanks also to our content and promotional partners
The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast hosted by Larry Gifford as featured in the MJFF2021 Year in Review.
PD Avengers – We are building a global alliance to end Parkinson’s. Join us.
World Parkinson Congress 2023 – It’s time to start thinking about making your plans to join us for #WPC2023 in Barcelona, Spain for the sixth triennial congress.
Spotlight YOPD – The only Parkinson’s organization dedicated to raising awareness for Young Onset Parkinson’s disease and funds for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
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The Talk | Larry & Rebecca in Conversation – Part Three of Three
This is the final instalment of our three episode mini-series we are calling “The Talk.” Hosts Larry and Rebecca Gifford talk about how Parkinson’s can send them into a hopeless spiral – at times it feeling as if they aren’t both committed to the marriage. And then there are times when Parkinson’s brings them closer together than ever.
A difficult, intimate, deeply personal conversation about keeping connected and the importance of communication for people with Parkinson’s and care partners.
This episode is dedicated to our dog Nina. We mention her a couple times in here. After this recording, her health turned and she’s no longer of this earth, but is someone where she can run free, where bully sticks are unlimited and she is free of pain.
Thank you for listening.
EMAIL US: ParkinsonsPod@CuriousCast.ca
Have questions for Larry & Rebecca? Want to share how your conversations go with your partner? We would love you to click and call us here. https://www.speakpipe.com/WhenLifeGivesYouParkinsons
Follow us, Larry & Rebecca Gifford
Twitter: @ParkinsonsPod
Facebook: Facebook.com/ParkinsonsPod
Instagram: @parkinsonspod
Thanks to
Dila Velazquez – Story Producer
Greg Schott – Sound Design
Our Promotional Partners include:
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s? You are not alone. Contact presenting partner Parkinson Canada http://www.parkinson.ca/, call the toll free hotline 1-800-565-3000 or on Twitter you can message @ParkinsonCanada.
Thanks also to our content and promotional partners
The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast hosted by Larry Gifford. The latest podcast, released on February 16th, 2022 features Larry & Rebecca and Kat & Ken Hill about intimacy and Parkinson’s. Happy Valentine’s Day.
PD Avengers – We are building a global alliance to end Parkinson’s. Sign up today and check out the events calendar at www.PDAvengers.com
World Parkinson Congress 2023 – It’s time to start thinking about making your plans to join us for #WPC2023 in Barcelona, Spain for July 2023… It’ll be here before you know it.
Spotlight YOPD – The only Parkinson’s organization dedicated to raising awareness for Young Onset Parkinson’s disease and funds for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust. -
Ep 5 – The Talk | Larry & Rebecca in Conversation – Part Two of Three.
This is part two of three for a mini-series of episodes we are calling “The Talk.” Hosts Larry and Rebecca Gifford are also the guests this week. In this episode, they check share the emotional toll Parkinson’s takes on each of them.
How to maintain agency of your life while dealing with Parkinson’s, how apathy impacts everything and where hope is found when you feel hopeless.
Thank you for listening.
EMAIL US: ParkinsonsPod@CuriousCast.ca
Have questions for Larry & Rebecca? Want to share how your conversations go with your partner? We would love you to click and call us here. https://www.speakpipe.com/WhenLifeGivesYouParkinsons
Follow us, Larry & Rebecca Gifford
Twitter: @ParkinsonsPod
Facebook: Facebook.com/ParkinsonsPod
Instagram: @parkinsonspod
Thanks to
Dila Velazquez – Story Producer
Greg Schott – Sound Design
Our Promotional Partners include:
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s? You are not alone. Contact presenting partner Parkinson Canada http://www.parkinson.ca/, call the toll free hotline 1-800-565-3000 or on Twitter you can message @ParkinsonCanada.
Thanks also to our content and promotional partners
The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast hosted by Larry Gifford as featured in the MJFF2021 Year in Review. Also noted in the 34 page booklet was…
PD Avengers – We are building a global alliance to end Parkinson’s. The next Assemble meeting is Tuesday, Jan 25th at 11a PT. Join us. Details under “meetings” at PD Avengers dot com.
World Parkinson Congress 2023 – It’s time to start thinking about making your plans to join us for #WPC2023 in Barcelona, Spain for t he sixth triennial congress.
Spotlight YOPD – The only Parkinson’s organization dedicated to raising awareness for Young Onset Parkinson’s disease and funds for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust. -
The Talk | Larry & Rebecca in Conversation – Part One of Three.
This is part one of three for a mini-series of episodes we are calling “The Talk.” Hosts Larry and Rebecca Gifford are also the guests this week. They will check on how each other is doing physically and emotionally.
They will talk about personal priorities, advocacy, and how chronic disease changes and challenges the dynamics of a family. We will also get into what gives us hope. In part one, that you are about to hear – we are talking about where our life sits from a practical perspective, the joys and pressures.
Also, what we are discovering about what we need as people and a family to maintain balance and productivity in our relatively new life where Parkinson’s is a main character.
We are figuring out how to take true breaks, a concept and practice that changes its meaning constantly and looks different as Parkinson’s progresses. And we’re relearning how energy conservation and awareness affects our wellbeing and ability to be present and as healthy as possible.
Thank you for listening.
EMAIL US: ParkinsonsPod@CuriousCast.ca
Have questions for Larry & Rebecca? Want to share how your conversations go with your partner? We would love you to click and call us here. https://www.speakpipe.com/WhenLifeGivesYouParkinsons
Follow us, Larry & Rebecca Gifford
Twitter: @ParkinsonsPod
Facebook: Facebook.com/ParkinsonsPod
Instagram: @parkinsonspod
Thanks to
Dila Velazquez – Story Producer
Greg Schott – Sound Design
This episode is dedicated in memory of my friend and fellow improve performer Sukhi. Thanks for the laughs pal. Godspeed.
Our Promotional Partners include:
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s? You are not alone. Contact presenting partner Parkinson Canada http://www.parkinson.ca/, call the toll free hotline 1-800-565-3000 or on Twitter you can message @ParkinsonCanada.
Thanks also to our content and promotional partners
The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast hosted by Larry Gifford as featured in the MJFF2021 Year in Review. Also noted in the 34 page booklet was…
PD Avengers – We are building a global alliance to end Parkinson’s. The next Assemble meeting is Tuesday, Jan 25th at 11a PT. Join us. Details under “meetings” at PD Avengers dot com.
World Parkinson Congress 2023 – It’s time to start thinking about making your plans to join us for #WPC2023 in Barcelona, Spain for t he sixth triennial congress.
Spotlight YOPD – The only Parkinson’s organization dedicated to raising awareness for Young Onset Parkinson’s disease and funds for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
Customer Reviews
My husband has recently been diagnosed
Larry and Rebecca thank you for these very helpful podcasts, my husband aged 57 has about a month ago been diagnosed. He was basically told by his neurologist (referred to him by his doctor), you have Parkinson’s, here is a prescription and goodbye.
I have been working my way through your podcasts and I love the honesty and tips and we are only starting our journey but I already feel so much more informed, I enjoy listening to all the experts around the world. We live in England and have a very supportive family and gorgeous children.
Has helped me so much with my diagnosis
I was diagnosed with PD in October 2019, aged 46 and this podcast has really helped me get my head round it. So much of what Larry talks about resonates with me and it’s also good to hear his guests’ different perspectives and experiences. Thanks so much Larry for caring and taking the time to create this podcast
Excellent
My mother has Parkinson’s and this podcast is really helping me to understand that some of her symptoms, such as loss of taste, result from her condition.
All credit to Larry and the team for this excellent and informative podcast. Keep it up!