2 Parkies in a Pod: a Parkinson's Podcast

Season's Greetings from 2 Parkies in a Pod ! 
Dave and Kuhan get in the festive spirit as they open the postbag and share some truly inspiring stories from the community ..including the challenges of running a nuclear power plant with Parkinson's, more remarkable DNA stories and we hear from friends.. old and new. 
Plus 2 Parkies in a Pod receives its own community award !
As always - honest conversations, real lives, and a bit of festive cheer along the way…
We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Please rate, review and subscribe!
2parkiesinapod.com
[email protected]

Many people living with Parkinson’s struggle to talk about their diagnosis. Fear, stigma, and uncertainty can keep people silent for years. Even Michael J. Fox kept his Parkinson’s diagnosis private for almost a decade.
This week on 2 Parkies in a Pod, we meet Scott and Paul, who share powerful, deeply personal coming out stories — not just about Parkinson’s, but about identity, isolation, and finding the courage to be seen.
Paul reflects on how closely his Parkinson’s journey mirrored his experience of coming out as gay:
“I guess I dealt with Parkinson’s in the same way I dealt with realising I was gay… by not talking to anyone about it for many years"
Scott speaks honestly about living with Parkinson’s while single, gay, and without family support:
“Being single, gay, with no family support, I did feel very isolated — and there weren’t many people I could see in the community that I had anything in common with.”
In one of the episode’s most raw moments, Scott also opens up about experiencing suicidal thoughts and explains how the helplessness he felt during tests for deep brain stimulation treatment resurfaced memories of past sexual abuse. His honesty shines a light on the complex mental health challenges faced by many people with Parkinson’s — challenges that often remain unspoken.
This is a story about vulnerability, survival, and connection. A story of adversity, community and ultimately ...gratitude.

Parkinson’s and The Invisible Man (Scott’s YouTube channel)
https://www.youtube.com/@Parkinsonsandtheinvisibleman
Parkinson’s UK Mental Health 
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information/symptoms/behavioural/mental-health
Podcast Club
https://localsupport.parkinsons.org.uk/activity/young-onset-parkinsons-online-group
LGBTQIA+ Network
https://localsupport.parkinsons.org.uk/activity/lgbtqia-network-meeting-online
DBS Network
https://forms.gle/ApDHqGaDF38n6wYa7
Join our yoga group
https://dawnwilliamsyoga.co.uk
1 in 3 living alone research insights
https://denpruexeter.nihr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DeNPRU-Exeter_living-alone-with-a-progressive-neurological-condition_policy-brief.pdf
Par-Con 2025 mental health video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-PwOYRSe4Q&list=PL1ixQpbHed3Y9_jS-WuZePcFa7N_O7aNi&index=7&pp=iAQB0gcJCSkKAYcqIYzv
Hear Me charity
https://www.parkinsons.me/hearme
Nutrition PD
http://prksn.uk/47RAlmu

Please rate, review and subscribe to the podcast 
Contact us at:
[email protected]

In this episode, we meet Lucy (not her real name), who shares her extraordinary Parkinson’s journey.
Lucy discovered she has a genetic form of Parkinson’s known as LRRK2. What started as a simple Ancestry DNA test to explore her family roots soon led to life-changing revelations — uncovering far more than she ever expected.
Before releasing this episode, we sought advice from Lucy’s counsellor, and we’ve taken every step to protect the privacy of everyone involved in this remarkable story.
If you’ve been affected by the topics discussed, or want to learn more about genetic Parkinson’s, you can contact the Parkinson’s UK Helpline for confidential advice and support:
📞 0808 800 0303
📧 [email protected]
Donor Conceived Support
https://donorconceiveduk.org.uk (peer led support)
https://www.uhliverpool.nhs.uk/services/service-finder/donor-conceived-register (national register)
EJS ACT PD Get Involved 
https://www.ejsactpd.com/
Watch 2 Parkies at Par-Con
https://youtu.be/H7IFQfcp2os
Neuro Heroes
https://www.neuroheroes.co.uk/
Parkinson’s Europe Work Survey
https://parkinsonseurope.org/parkinsonslife/careers-cut-short-financial-loss-and-fear-of-stigma-new-survey-working-with-parkinsons/
Parkinson’s UK Nurse appeal
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/donate/donate-great-care
Neuralink
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/oct/first-uk-patient-uses-thought-control-computer-hours-after-neuralink-implant
[email protected]

10 Tips for a Better Day
You can watch this episode at:
https://youtu.be/H7IFQfcp2os
In this special live episode from Parkinson’s UK’s Par-Con event in Birmingham, Kuhan and Dave are joined by a buzzing audience of more than 1000 people in person and online and the incredible Laura Douglas, neuro physiotherapist and founder of Neuro Heroes.Laura shares her expert advice from getting out of bed, stretches for dystonia and tips for getting dressed.Packed with practical tips, uplifting moments, and plenty of fun, this episode will help you start and end each day feeling stronger, steadier, and more confident — no matter what.

Neuro Heroes Tips

Plus a couple of special announcements.

Subscribe to 2 Parkies in a Pod

A new study published today reveals a worrying trend: there are now 166,000 people in the UK living with Parkinson’s but a further 21,000 are estimated to be undiagnosed.. and unsupported.
The Parkinson's UK study, the largest of it's kind, also reveals more than a third (36%) were of working age when diagnosed.
Separately the number of people with a more complex form of Parkinsonism (e.g. Lewy Body Dementia, MSA, PSP) has increased to 28,000.
The study also finds stark differences in rates based on ethnicity.
Even more concerning, in some parts of the country people are waiting up to five years to see a neurologist. The charity has called it a “Parkinson’s diagnosis crisis.”
With someone in the UK diagnosed every 20 minutes, we ask: why are the numbers rising, what’s driving the crisis, and what needs to change?
Join us as we dig into the data, with 3 experts from Parkinson’s UK and explore what this means for the Parkinson’s community — now and for the future.
For more information:
Parkinson's UK News Article:
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/news/thousands-are-living-parkinsons-undiagnosed-and-unsupported-our-new-research-finds
Read the Parkinson's UK Research Blog:
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/research/research-blog/our-research/parkinsons-uk-what-do-we-know
Parkinson's UK Statistics:
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/about-us/parkinsons-statistics
Research Paper:
https://movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mdc3.70368
www.parkinsons.org.uk
UK Helpline 0808 800 0303
Join the Research Support Network:
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/research/research-blog/our-research/parkinsons-uk-research-support-network
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/research/race-equality-research
Join the Black, Asian, Arab and Mixed Heritage Support Group:
https://localsupport.parkinsons.org.uk/activity/black-asian-arab-and-mixed-heritage-support-group-meeting
Listen to Will I Die from Parkinson's:
https://www.2parkiesinapod.com/podcast/episode/1e8a6b26/will-i-die-from-parkinsons
https://ourfuturehealth.org.uk/