Hear, Here, Parkinson’s! Podcast

Daniel M. Corcos, PhD, Professor at Northwestern University, joins the Hear, Here Parkinson’s Podcast to discuss his upcoming plenary talk at the 7th World Parkinson Congress: Is Exercise Neuroprotective in Parkinson’s Disease? Evidence from Clinical Trials. His research focuses on exercise and Parkinson’s disease, including clinical trials showing that resistance and high-intensity endurance exer...

On this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast, we welcome Naomi Casiro, Registered Physiotherapist, Certified PWR! Therapist, and founder of NeuroFit BC. Naomi joins us to share her expertise in neurological rehabilitation and her evolving approach to improving care for people living with Parkinson’s. A key focus of the conversation is falls—one of the most complex and impactful challenges...

On this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson’s Podcast, we’re joined by Richard Smeyne, PhD — Professor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Smeyne dives into his research on the powerful role of exercise in Parkinson’s, and shares insights ahead of his upcoming Plenary session at the 7th World Parkinson Congress.

On this episode of the Hear Here Parkinson’s Podcast, host and WPC Executive Director Eli Pollard speaks with George Ackerman, PhD, JD — author, advocate, lawyer, and law enforcement professional. George shares his journey as a caregiver for his mother with Parkinson’s and how that experience inspired his advocacy within the Parkinson’s community. He also discusses his work connecting Parkinson’s...

Steven Iseman of the WPC Pedal to Phoenix – Team Route 66 joins the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast to share the story behind his incredible upcoming cycling journey to the 7th World Parkinson Congress, riding from Chicago to Phoenix. He also reflects on his previous adventure cycling from the UK to Barcelona for WPC 2023 and opens up about how embracing a positive mindset continues to shape his ex...

On this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson’s Podcast, Linda Olson, MD, and WPC Board Member, joins hosts Eli Pollard, WPC Executive Director, and Edgar Valdmanis, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, for a candid and inspiring conversation. Dr. Olson shares her extraordinary journey of living with Parkinson’s as a triple amputee, her path to becoming a radiologist, and the resilience and hope that guid...

In this episode of the Hear Here Parkinson’s Podcast, hosts Edgar Valdmanis, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, and Elizabeth “Eli” Pollard, WPC Executive Director, welcome researcher Natasha Fothergill-Misbah, PhD, who also serves on the WPC 2026 Creativity Committee. Natasha was a producer of the award-winning short documentary Shaking Hands with the Devil, which shines a light on Parkinson’s stigma...

WPC Music Director Judi Spencer and musician Tomas Gisby—both members of the WPC 2026 Music and Creativity Committee—join Hear, Here Parkinson’s Podcast host and WPC Executive Director Eli Pollard for an engaging conversation about the role of music at the World Parkinson Congress. They share personal reflections from attending multiple Congresses and explore how music and creativity help connect...

John Cryan, Professor & Chair of the Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience at University College Cork, Principal Investigator at APC Microbiome Ireland, and bestselling author, joins WPC 2026 Ambassador Tony Wilkinson (Ireland) for a bonus episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson Podcast. Prof. Cryan discusses his research at UCC, the link between microbiome science and Parkinson’s, and his appe...

Dr. Mayela Rodriguez Violante from Mexico who is on the WPC 2026 Program Committee joins the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast with WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, and guest host, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador Laura Olmos. 

Leslie Chambers, President & CEO, APDA, WPC Double Platinum Champion partner joins this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast with host, WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard. 

In this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast, WPC 2026 Science Ambassador Elena Berti joins hosts Edgar Valdmanis and Eli Pollard to discuss her experience as a caregiver for her father with Parkinson’s, her work as a clinical psychologist, her ongoing PhD studies in neuroscience at Tor Vergata University in Rome, and her research and insights from attending the World Parkinson Congress.

On this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast, Richelle Flanagan, Founder of My Moves Matter, a Registered Dietitian from Ireland and WPC 2023 Ambassador joins host WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, for a candid conversation on Richelle's Parkinson diagnosis, living with YOPD, Pregnancy and Parkinson's, Women's Parkinson's Project and advocacy work and the transformative experience she...

Professor Sarkis Mazmanian joins the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast with hosts WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, and guest host, WPC 2026 Science Ambassador Dr. Roberta Marongiu.  Professor Sarkis Mazmanian is an American medical microbiologist who has served as a professor at the California Institute of Technology since 2006. He is currently the Luis & Nelly Soux Professor of Microbiology...

In this episode, hosts Edgar Valdmanis, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, and Eli Pollard, WPC Executive Director, engage in a conversation with WPC 2026 Ambassador Jagdeep Ajula (UK) and WPC Awardee Kabugo Hannington (Uganda). Hannington received the Robin A. Elliott Award for Outstanding Community Service at the 6th World Parkinson Congress for his exceptional efforts in raising awareness about Par...

On this episode of the Hear, Here! Parkinson's Podcast, former WPC President Dr. Jon Stoessl joins hosts Eli Pollard, the WPC Executive Director, and guest co-host Julia Obergasteiger, a WPC 2026 Science Ambassador. Together, they engage in an insightful discussion about his contributions to the Parkinson's community and his experiences at the World Parkinson Congresses, including his time as WPC...

Naomi Estolas, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, along with her daughter Ruby Estolas, join the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast with Host WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, and Guest Host, WPC 2026 Ambassador, Margie Zimmerman. They discuss Ruby's viewpoint as a child of someone living with Parkinson's disease, how the WPC experience helped to inspire Naomi's advocacy and creativity in the Parkinson...

Dr. Ray Dorsey is the David M. Levy, Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester and joins the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast to discuss how he is working to identify and eliminate the root causes of Parkinson's disease. He is a co-author of Ending Parkinson's Disease - A Prescription for Action (2020) and co-author of the new book The Parkinson's Plan: A New Path to Prevention and Treat...

In this episode, podcast hosts welcome WPC Buddies Program Coordinators, Michelle Garratt and Sree Sripathy, to discuss the WPC Buddies Program. Topics include: What the program entails Who is eligible to apply The lasting impact it has had on delegates who attended The World Parkinson Congress

Professor Tilo Kunath from the University of Edinburgh and a former presenter at the World Parkinson Congress, appears on the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast. He shares insights on stem cell research and reflects on the significant impact that the World Parkinson Congresses have had, both for him personally and for the Edinburgh research community and beyond.

On this episode of the Hear, Here Podcast, hosts, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador Edgar Valdmanis and WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, have a wonderful conversation with Parkinson Advocate, Omotola Thomas, MS who is the Founder of Parkinson’s Africa, a WPC Alumni Ambassador, and sits on the WPC Board of Directors. 

Professor Per Borghammer, MD, PhD, DMSc joins the podcast this week with host WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador Edgar Valdmanis. Dr. Per Borghammer presented at the 5th and 6th World Parkinson Congresses. He is currently a senior consultant and Professor in the Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark.

In this episode Hear Here Parkinson's podcast host, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, Edgar Valdmanis is joined by guest host, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, Monique Bosman as they interview Professor Bas Bloem, who is a Professor of Neurology at Radboud University Medical Center in The Netherlands and who was the WPC 2013 Scientific Co-Chair.

In this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast, hosts WPC 2026 Ambassador Edgar Valdmanis and WPC Executive Director Eli Pollard take some time to speak with the WPC Alumni Ambassadors and founding members of the cycling to WPC group, Pedal to Phoenix. They speak with Alison Anderson (UK), Rune Vethe (Norway) and Geoff Constable (Australia). 

In this episode we have the opportunity to speak with Chirine Katribe, PhD, from France Parkinson who is also a WPC 2026 Science Ambassador and shares about her own experience attending the WPC 2023 in Barcelona, her own research on Parkinson's, and how Parkinson France continues to create opportunities for their researchers to attend The World Parkinson Congress.