ALS -To the moon and back

Lisa Wright and Portia Turbo
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Welcome to To the Moon and Back. I’m Lisa Wright, and with me is Portia Turbo — iconic Sydney drag queen, trivia queen, perfume oracle, and a bestie of almost 15 years. We met at one of her infamous trivia nights and have spent years wandering art galleries, laughing ourselves silly, and navigating life’s unexpected twists together. In this first episode, we talk honestly about friendship, joy, and my recent diagnosis of ALS — and what it means to face something big with humour, love, and the people who hold you up.

  1. ALS: To The Moon and Back — Episode 18

    May 31

    ALS: To The Moon and Back — Episode 18

    Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode is a big one. We’re joined by Heather Plude for a deep dive into mould, mycotoxins, chronic illness, stress, nervous system responses and the absolutely wild rabbit holes people end up travelling when they’re trying to work out why they’re sick.  Heather shares the extraordinary story of her son becoming critically ill as a child, the discovery of toxic mould in their home, and how that experience completely changed the direction of her life. We talk about the practical side of mould testing, why some people seem more affected than others, the difference between mould and mycotoxins, and why “just spray some bleach on it” may not be the brilliant plan we once thought it was.  There’s also plenty of classic Portia moments, including discHussions about shouting on trains, grey Sydney weather, mouldy apartments, silk doonas apparently made from “the bottoms of caterpillars,” and the ongoing reality that if you live on the east coast of Australia right now… honestly… you probably have mould somewhere.  As always, this podcast is about curiosity, conversation and exploring ideas around health, healing and recovery. We’re not pretending to have all the answers — but we are asking a lot of questions. And occasionally laughing while doing it, because otherwise you’d cry into your dehumidifier. Resources: HERTSMI Heather's A Good Health Advocate Support the show Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back. If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it. You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between. Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    52 min
  2. ALS - To The Moon and Back — Episode 17

    May 18

    ALS - To The Moon and Back — Episode 17

    Send us Fan Mail This episode starts with one of those brutally honest check-ins that probably sums up life with ALS better than anything polished ever could: “Yeah, so when I said I was good… I lied.”  Lisa talks openly about the strange balancing act of feeling hopeful and encouraged by genuine improvements — better coordination, less spasticity, stronger core function and positive signs from physios — while also navigating the absolute exhaustion that comes from simply trying to keep living a normal life. Dog trials, birthdays, friends, noise, conversations, medical appointments… sometimes it all just becomes too much.  A huge part of this episode centres around the emotional and physical toll of ongoing infusion treatments and the reality of being repeatedly used as a training “guinea pig” for port access procedures. There’s frustration, tears, dark humour and a really important conversation about advocating for yourself medically — especially when your body is already carrying more than enough. Portia, as always, manages to balance fierce protectiveness with hilariously inappropriate commentary, including the unforgettable line about nurses with cataracts probably not being ideal for precision needlework.  But this episode isn’t all heavy. Far from it. There’s talk of skiing dreams with “spaghetti legs,” Paris adventures, Tom Cruise-induced histamine reactions, drag-queen engineering solutions involving hot glue guns, mouldy blinds, woo-woo full moon energy, introverts pretending to be extroverts, and the ongoing reality that humour remains one of the best survival mechanisms available to human beings.  There’s also a deeper thread running underneath the laughs — learning when to stop, when to say no, when to rest, and when to give yourself grace instead of constantly pushing through.  Support the show Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back. If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it. You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between. Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    48 min
  3. ALS - To The Moon and Back — Episode 16

    May 13

    ALS - To The Moon and Back — Episode 16

    Send us Fan Mail This episode starts with us talking rubbish about bin chickens, bad politicians, Barbie dolls, drag queens and whether double-dipping chips should actually be illegal in Australia. Completely normal behaviour. Then, somewhere between laughing ourselves stupid and discussing “important Australian words” that apparently need to be voice banked forever, things get a bit deeper.  We talk honestly about something that’s started happening for me recently — ALS beginning to affect my voice. It’s confronting, weird, heartbreaking and strangely practical all at once. We get into voice banking, AI technology, recording memories for my granddaughters, and why apparently I now need to permanently preserve the ability to say “mate, what the f*ck?” for future generations. Because priorities.  There’s also a really raw conversation about illness, grief, friendship, the AIDS epidemic, people leaving too early, and the strange perspective you gain when life suddenly becomes very fragile. But in true us-fashion, even in the middle of the hard stuff, we somehow end up crying with laughter. Because sometimes humour is the only thing holding the whole circus together. We also talk about the weird reality that living with ALS isn’t just doom and gloom every second of every day. There are moments of incredible beauty, perspective and connection in amongst it all. Plus a bit of hope — research is moving fast, trials are happening, and for the first time in a long time there are genuine reasons to believe things could change for people living with this disease. It’s messy, emotional, funny, slightly inappropriate and very, very human. Pretty much us in podcast form. Support the show Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back. If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it. You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between. Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    49 min
  4. ALS - To The Moon and Back — Episode 15

    May 4

    ALS - To The Moon and Back — Episode 15

    Send us Fan Mail This one kicks off like most of our chats do — a bit of banter, a few sideways comments about the state of the world, and then… we take a proper turn. I share some recent test results that honestly stopped me in my tracks, looking at mould exposure, toxins, and what might be going on behind the scenes with my health. It’s one of those moments where you start joining dots you didn’t even know were there, and go, “hang on… this could actually matter.”  We get into the reality of what that looks like day to day — trying to manage a house that may or may not be working against you, the cost of it all (financial and otherwise), and how quickly things can spiral from “we’ll deal with that later” to “right, we probably should’ve dealt with that yesterday.” There’s a lot in here about learning as you go, making decisions without perfect information, and trying not to lose your sense of humour while doing it. And don’t worry — it’s not all heavy. There’s plenty of laughs (including me apparently being “ground zero” for the apocalypse 🙄), plus one of Portia’s stories that is equal parts hilarious and completely outrageous. We also talk about disability, the strange things people say when they don’t quite know what to say, and those moments that just leave you thinking… what was that? If you’ve ever wondered how we juggle the serious stuff without completely losing the plot — this episode is pretty much it. Real, a bit ridiculous, occasionally confronting, and still somehow hopeful. Support the show Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back. If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it. You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between. Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    51 min
  5. ALS - To The Moon and Back — Episode 14

    Apr 19

    ALS - To The Moon and Back — Episode 14

    Send us Fan Mail This one starts exactly where you’d expect us to begin… microphones, crockery, and a bit of light chaos before we even get to ALS 😄 From there, we head straight into my trip to Uluru — which, honestly, turned into something far more meaningful than I expected. There’s airport moments (including a very honest rant about accessible toilets), unexpected kindness from strangers that absolutely undoes me, and a Qantas flight attendant who may or may not now be part of our extended podcast family. Also, turns out if you casually mention ALS mid-flight, you might end up with champagne and a personal concierge experience… not complaining.  But the heart of this episode is what happened out at Uluru. The walk around the base, the “brain” formation, and a meditation that landed at exactly the right time — all of it coming together in this strange, powerful way. There’s something about that place that’s hard to explain, but you feel it. I talk about “leaving the bags behind” — the stuff you carry that you don’t need anymore — and having a moment to just sit in gratitude that I was even there, doing it. It’s a bit woo-woo, a bit grounded, and very real all at once.  We also get into the bigger stuff — the reality of ALS in Australia, the gaps in support depending on your age, and how wildly unfair that can be. There’s a raw conversation around choice, dignity, and what the end of life can look like with this disease. But in true form, it’s not all heavy — there’s humour, honesty, and that constant thread of “keep making plans” running through it. Because at the end of the day, that’s what this is about — living, even when things are hard. Support the show Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back. If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it. You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between. Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    54 min
  6. ALS - To The Moon And Back Episode 13

    Apr 7

    ALS - To The Moon And Back Episode 13

    Send us Fan Mail ALS to the Moon and Back — Episode 13This episode kicks off the way all great conversations do… With smugness over a 10-minute morning routine and a deep philosophical question: 👉 Can you feel better after just 10 minutes? Answer: no. But you can feel superior. And honestly, that counts.  Then we get into it… Somehow (as always), we cover:  Teeth, mercury fillings, and why Lisa now has a gap — with a surprisingly good backstory  The wild world of dentistry when you’re navigating ALS  Why your body sometimes knows before your brain catches up  The absolute chaos of modern healthcare access (great… if you can get it) And yes… we absolutely detour into:  The manosphere  Social media influence  Politics, privilege, and the occasional rant that probably needed to happen This episode really circles around one big idea: Pay attention to what your body is telling you. Whether it’s:  a gut feeling in a medical appointment  something not quite right physically  or just that quiet internal “this isn’t it” Teeth matter more than you think This episode goes deep into something not talked about enough:  dental health  inflammation  toxins  and how all of that may connect into bigger systemic issues Also, because this is our podcast and we do not stay in one lane:  A very proud dog mum moment (Ony absolutely smashing it 🏆)  The realities of breeding vs temperament  Why dogs might just be one of the best emotional support systems on the planet And then… the real moments  A tough day physically and emotionally  What happens when pain, fatigue, and everything else collide  Letting yourself cry instead of holding it all together And one of the most beautiful lines of the episode:“That which you cannot say must be cried out.” Support the show Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back. If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it. You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between. Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    1 hr
  7. ALS - To The Moon And Back Episode 12

    Mar 31

    ALS - To The Moon And Back Episode 12

    Send us Fan Mail New Episode: ALS to the Moon and Back – Episode 12 Ohhh my… this one’s a bit of a ride. Portia and I kick things off completely off track (as usual), wander through grief, a bit of politics, a few strong opinions, some questionable humour… and then eventually remember we’re meant to be talking about ALS 😅 We get properly stuck into what I’m calling the “why we can’t” attitude — especially in healthcare. You know the one… where the answer’s no before anyone’s even had a crack at finding a yes. And I’ll be honest, I think I’ve hit my limit with it. When your time suddenly feels very real and very precious, being mucked around, brushed off, or told something can’t be done — it lands a bit differently. There’s also a bit of a rant (fair warning) about being stood up for appointments — twice 🙄 — driving all over the place for things that don’t happen, and that general feeling of “you’ve got to be kidding me.” Plus a classic moment in a mobility shop where everyone’s trying to help… but no one’s actually listening. I may or may not have lost my patience over socks. It happens. Portia, as always, brings the laughs, a bit of perspective, and the occasional “pull your head in” moment — which, to be fair, is sometimes needed. But… it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s actually some really good news in here. I’ve been accepted into a clinical trial that’s looking at treating what’s actually going on in the body — not just managing symptoms. And that feels pretty bloody significant.  We chat about what that means, what’s coming next, and that weird mix of hope and disbelief when something positive actually happens. Anyway… it’s a bit messy, a bit funny, a bit raw — very us. Have a listen ❤️ Support the show Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back. If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it. You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between. Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    43 min
  8. ALS - To The Moon And Back Episode 11

    Mar 23

    ALS - To The Moon And Back Episode 11

    Send us Fan Mail This week Lisa and Portia joined by Katrina Small, and honestly, this episode has everything. Katrina shares her wild health journey — from trekking the Kokoda Track and picking up a gut parasite, to years later getting long COVID and feeling like someone had literally switched her brain off. Not “a bit foggy”. Not “a little tired”. More like: successful professional woman suddenly wondering where half her cognitive filing cabinet has gone. We talk about: ✨ the gut–brain connection ✨ long COVID and brain fog ✨ inflammation, autoimmune responses and microbiome health ✨ why sometimes your body knows exactly what’s wrong even when nobody else does ✨ what it feels like to not be believed ✨ and why asking for help remains one of the rudest personal growth exercises on earth It’s a big conversation — smart, funny, honest, and full of those moments where you go, “Oh wow… that actually makes a lot of sense.” Also featured: poo transplants, medical gaslighting, women being called “difficult” when they’re actually just accurate, and a reminder that healing is rarely tidy. Support the show Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back. If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it. You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between. Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    48 min
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About

Welcome to To the Moon and Back. I’m Lisa Wright, and with me is Portia Turbo — iconic Sydney drag queen, trivia queen, perfume oracle, and a bestie of almost 15 years. We met at one of her infamous trivia nights and have spent years wandering art galleries, laughing ourselves silly, and navigating life’s unexpected twists together. In this first episode, we talk honestly about friendship, joy, and my recent diagnosis of ALS — and what it means to face something big with humour, love, and the people who hold you up.

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Wright and Portia Turbo
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 ALS -To the moon and back
  • Show Website
    ALS -To the moon and back

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