Movers and Shakers: a podcast about life with Parkinson's

Would you rather: bid for a rugby shirt signed by the mysterious "Mike Tiddle", run a marathon around Loch Ness, or paraglide off the top of Mont Blanc? Those are some of the extraordinary fundraising projects undertaken in the name of Parkinson's, and that's what the Movers & Shakers are discussing in the pub today. With inspirational stories from great fundraisers as well as a look at how ef...

It's getting rather hot in the Notting Hill pub this week, as we convene to discuss the (t)horny question of intimacy. Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it – but do Parkies? The Movers and Shakers are joined by an expert sexologist and an intimacy co-ordinator to get to the bottom of the issues around sex. It's a candid conversation – covering everything from erectile dysfunction to...

A man walks into the pub wearing vibrating shoes – no, that's not the start of a joke, but exactly what happened to Rory Cellan-Jones. On this week's episode, the Movers and Shakers are looking at some of the new technology, from fancy footwear to rhythmical cuing devices, to look at what tech can do for Parkies. They're also joined by the author of a snazzy new guide to Parkinson's gadgets, which...

In October last year, broadcasting legend John Stapleton, a former host of shows like Nationwide and Watchdog , was diagnosed with Parkinson's. This week, he joins the Movers & Shakers in the Notting Hill pub to discuss his life, career and his PD journey so far. From getting pecked off our screen's by Rod Hull's intemperate Emu to making a film about his diagnosis with his award-winning docum...

We're back! But today's episode isn't coming to you from the Notting Hill pub – instead, it was recorded live at the Middle Temple. In this special episode Rory, Gillian, Nicholas, Paul and Mark talk through their Parkinson's journeys and are joined, from the gallery, by a number of special guests (you'll have to tune in to find out who but they include a star neurologist, a research director and...

We're back in the Notting Hill pub for our final episode of 2024. And after some rather gloomy subjects in recent weeks – from caring responsibilities to assisted dying – the Movers and Shakers are turning their attention to something a little more optimistic. With contributions from listeners – and a couple of special guests – this episode looks at the reasons all Parkies have to be cheerful. Whe...

Could discreet pumps, constantly providing adjustable doses of your top Parky drugs, be the future of 24-hour care? That's one of the suggestions made by advocates of a new range of pumps, one of whom, Professor Ray Chaudhuri (aka the Judge's neurologist), joins the Movers and Shakers in the Notting Hill pub. And if that's not a sufficiently bumper discussion, Prof Chaudhuri also discusses a new p...

This week the Movers & Shakers are celebrating our four-legged friends, both canine and feline. But how do pets help or hinder the experience of having Parkinson's? With expert testimony from Bilbo Mostyn, Derek Paxman, Sophie Cellan-Jones and Lana Del Grey Mardell – not to mention several listeners calling in – and some special guests, this episode explores the special bond between animals an...

In this special live edition of Movers and Shakers half of the gang – The Judge, Rory and Paul – head to the famous Belfry golf club, where Sport Parkinson's were hosting their annual Four Nations golf tournament. In this wide-ranging conversation about the merits of sports (and a few pitfalls), special guests join to discuss the various initiatives for motivating Parkies into athletic endeavour....

Women make up about 40% of all Parkinson's cases – but the Movers and Shakers panel doesn't often reflect that! Do we pay enough attention to women's experience with the disease? And does medical science have the same blindspot? On this week's episode of the show, we're talking about the female experience with PD, how the disease differently impacts the genders, and what we need to do to even the...

In the world of Parkinson's, Bas Bloem is something of a rockstar. The Dutch neurological giant (in more ways than one) joins the Movers and Shakers in the Notting Hill pub for this special interview, where he talks about his personal journey into PD research, his suspicions on the causes of the illness, and his pathological optimism for the future of the condition. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones,...

When Paul titled his episode " Help! (me please, I beg you, because I've been a bloody pillock) " we knew he'd bring his typical humour and candour to the trickiest of subjects. This week, the Movers & Shakers (minus Rory and Jeremy) are talking about care, and the assistance that can be offered both by loved ones and the state. If you haven't thought about how to arrange and finance care – wh...

Assisted dying is currently on the agenda in the UK, as a private member's bill enters Parliament. But with legislation comes a moral debate: should the state be involved in easing the passing of the sick? And, if so, what should the conditions be? What guardrails can be put in place to ensure that what ought to be about mercy doesn't become the subject of abuse? To discuss this difficult topic an...

Keir Starmer's new Labour government have been in power, now, for 100 days. After big promises to raise pay, slash the backlog and reduce waiting times, have Labour, and new Health Secretary Wes Streeting, made any in-roads? On this episode, the Movers and Shakers are joined in the pub by Gaynor Edwards and Professor Michele Hu (Paul's neurologist), as well as, down-the-line, by new social care mi...

Were it not for the eventual verdict of the Court of Appeal, Holmes vs Poeton may well have been a landmark case for Parkies. Or so claims the (ex) Judge, Nicholas Mostyn, who serves as the guide in today's episode, where the Movers & Shakers look into some thorny questions: what causes Parkinson's? And who, if anyone, is to blame? Our guide is Professor Yoav Ben-Shlomo from the University of...

Targeted ultrasound might sound like something a Bond villain would use to incinerate a Swiss canton, but, in reality, it could be the next big, breakthrough Parkinson's treatment. On today's episode, the Movers & Shakers gather in the Notting Hill pub to discuss this new therapy and are joined in that undertaking by returning guest Professor Ludwic Zrinzo, an expert in both this technique as...

If music be the food of love (or, given we're in the pub, "the love of food"), play on . On this week's Movers and Shakers , the gang have gathered to discuss music, and the many ways it can impact the Parky community. From vocal warm-ups and singing helping to bring back Mark's booming voice, through to dance and gesture exercise keeping you fit and lyric translations keeping you brainy, music ca...

Every hero needs a sidekick: Batman and Robin, the Lone Ranger and Tonto, Ronald McDonald and Grimace. And, in Parkinson's world, if Levodopa is the crime-fighting vigilante, then enzyme blockers (or inhibitors) are keeping the seats warm in the Batmobile. To discuss the vital role that this group of drugs play, the Movers and Shakers are joined in the pub by Professor Peter Jenner, a pharmacologi...

Pour yourself a drink and pull up a chair: the Movers and Shakers are back in the pub ! To open our fourth ( yes, fourth – we can hardly believe it either ) season, the gang gather to discuss their summer holidays – from Scottish ping pong to Alpine dystonia – and make a big announcement. Whilst pretending to be on their jollies, Gillian and Mark have been leading the charge with a brand new music...

For our final Parky Profile of this summer mini-series, we're joined in the pub by broadcasting legend Dave Clark. From launching Sky Sports New to becoming one of the key faces in the success of darts, Dave has been an iconic of sports TV. When he was diagnosed with Parkinson's over a decade ago, it brought back memories of his own family, and the next years were defined by an attempt not just to...

Our Parky Profile this week is a man who's been riding the Parkinson's wave far longer than any of the Movers and Shakers. Matt Eagles was diagnosed at the tender age of seven, and has had a full-life PD experience, from being a ropey designated driver to finding love on Facebook. Matt is an eternal – and determined – optimist, and his Parky journey is sure to inspire listeners as to what can be a...

Our guest in the latest of our Parky Profile series is Emma Lawton. Emma wears a lot of hats (and not to cover her pink hair!): graphic designer, blogger, stand-up comedian and parky! Having been diagnosed at the age of 29, Emma has spent the last decade coming to terms with her diagnoses and working out how to live a full life and check items off her f***-it list! Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones,...

For the next in our series of profiles of fascinating folk with Parkinson's, Paul introduces the gang to Kevin Cahill. For decades, Kevin was the Chief Executive of Comic Relief, a role that entitled him dubious honours, like employing Paul to write University Challenge sketches, and convincing Billy Connolly to run round Trafalgar Square in nothing but his God-given fatigues. Kevin joins the Move...

In the pub this week, for the latest instalment of our Parky Profiles series, is none other than Paul Sinha: qualified doctor, award-winning comedian, professional Chaser. Paul's journey through Parkinson's hasn't been without its difficulties – to compound things, he had a heart attack at the Edinburgh festival – but over a Diet Coke in the Notting Hill pub, Paul shares his wit and wisdom on livi...

On this bonus election episode of the podcast (don't worry, the politics is over and our Parky Profile series will resume on Saturday!) we're speaking to Victoria Atkins, the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. We discuss the impact that the Conservatives are having on the backlog in the health service, the future for neurological provision, and what she can – and can't – promis...