Movers and Shakers:The Chat Edition
It was in March 2023 that six people living with Parkinson’s launched Movers and Shakers with the aim of capturing the flavour of the conversations we had been having in a pub in London’s Notting Hill. Judge Nick Mostyn referred to our regular meetings as a support bubble and we wanted to share that experience with the wider Parkinson’s community.
Over around seventy episodes the podcast has flourished and grown and we have talked to all sorts of amazing people, from world leading scientists and neurologists seeking to understand the disease and find a cure, to experts on nutrition, exercise and intimacy as they relate to Parkinson’s.
Biut every now and then we like to just sit back and simply chat to each other, like in the old days. That is what we do this week, although the episode comes in the form of a planning meeting for the current series. We discuss our favourite episodes so far - inevitably I choose my tech roundup with Carl Beech’s astonishing demo of his Beech Band, while Gillian Lacey-Solymar plumps for her intimacy edition.
Then we bat around some ideas for future episodes from travelling with Parkinson’s to alternative treatments such as red light therapy.Please let us know if you have subjects you would like us to cover.
Finally, we turn to our mission, agreeing that we have moved beyond just trying to make a damn good podcast and have taken on a role campaigning on behalf of the Parkinson’s community. Speaking of which, do join us next Friday April 11th - World Parkinson’s Day - for the Big Sing where you can belt out the Parky Charter anthem We Will Survive just across the road from the Houses of Parliament. All the details can be found on our website by clicking here.
I may be preaching to the converted, but my wife has Parkinson's and has found huge benefits in boxing. There's an organisation called Rock Steady Boxing, which is active in the North West of England, but I don't think it's available nationwide at present. Could you please share Rock Steady Boxing with your group and perhaps encourage people in other parts of the country to set up groups. or come along to the sessions in Warrington and Widnes. It truly works wonders for balance and co-ordination and there's even chair-boxing sessions for those that have difficulty standing up. https://rocksteadyboxing.org/
Bob Summers
I have recently bought a red light therapy headset and would be interested to hear how others have got on with this. I don't think it has been previously discussed on the podcast, please correct me if I'm wrong.