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

In just a couple of weeks, Wes Streeting may find himself the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. If that wasn't a sufficiently daunting proposition, this week he finds himself at the Notting Hill pub surrounded by our group of militant Parkies! What does Streeting make of the Parky Charter? Will he promise an influx of new neurologists? And how will he prevent the NHS succumbing to scl...

For the second instalment of our summer series profiling extraordinary people with Parkinson's, the gang are joined in the Notting Hill pub by Dame Susie Sainsbury. A note philanthropist and patron of the arts, Susie has spent decades living with PD. But what caused her to spend 3 years keeping the diagnosis totally secret, even from her husband, former Science Minister David Sainsbury? And how do...

This week, we're kicking off our summer mini-series, profiling top Parkies who are leading extraordinary lives despite – or because of – the condition. First up: Guy Deacon. Guy has driven from Morocco to South Africa in a VW Camper Van since his diagnoses, which makes him a perfect person to pontificate on how to take big, adventurous risks when living with the illness. Presented by Rory Cellan-J...

It's the season finale of Movers and Shakers , which means that it's time to answer some of your letters. From discussion about the Charter to playing walking football at the Emirates, this is a diverse mailbag that captures the wit and wisdom of the Movers and Shakers community. And then, at the end of the episode, we have a little treat: music extracted from Parky tremors! Presented by Rory Cell...

From levodopa to Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) we're all pretty familiar with the treatments for Parkinson's. But could there be something, just around the corner, that could change the whole game, not just stalling but reversing the tide of symptoms? That's the subject the Movers and Shakers are discussing today as they gather in the Notting Hill pub with special guest Professor Roger Barker, a wo...

What causes Parkinson's? This is one of the trickiest questions facing researchers and doctors – not to mention patients – and it's the topic being tackled by the Movers and Shakers as they take to the Notting Hill pub today. Is there something atmospheric? Or does the club lie in our DNA? Our guide through this topic is Professor Matt Farrer, one of the leading lights of this research area. Prese...

This week we have a very special episode of Movers and Shakers : live from Downing Street! On World Parkinson's Day, the Movers and Shakers, along with representatives from Parkinson's UK, Cure Parkinson's and Spotlight YOPD took to the streets of Westminster to hand over the #ParkyCharter, a list of 5 demands (well, polite requests) to government. Join Rory, Gillian, Mark, Paul, Nick and Jeremy i...

From Love and Other Drugs to Shrinking , Curb Your Enthusiasm to Emmerdale, Parkinson's only occasionally makes it to screens (big or small). On today's Movers and Shakers , the gang gather in the Notting Hill pub to discuss the representation of Parkinson's across film and TV. Is there enough Parkinson's? Is it done well? And how could it be improved – both in quantity and quality? Presented by R...

What times do you take your Parkinson's medication? Some people are regular as clockwork – morning, lunchtime, evening – while others work to a more erratic schedule. However and whenever you usually take your meds, that system is likely to be disrupted in hospital. On this episode of Movers and Shakers , the gang gather at the Notting Hill pub to sort through the challenges of keeping up your med...

The benefits system can feel, at times, like an unnavigable maze, especially for people with Parkinson's whose conditions are so varied and fluctuate so regularly. On today's episode of Movers & Shakers , the gang gather in the pub to try and put the benefits system on trial (at least, that's what The Judge does). From PIP payments to Universal Credit, how much support is there really for peop...

Palliative care: two words that strike fear into most people. But are we thinking about palliative care all wrong? On this week's episode of Movers and Shakers , we're in the pub and discussing how to approach conversations about care that goes beyond the merely curative. The Movers and Shakers are joined by a palliative care consultant for this part of the discussion, and then a tip-top High Cour...

Due to a failure of imagination within the Movers & Shakers team, we've somehow allowed Rory to do a second episode all about Parkinson's technology. But don't fear! He's come to the pub equipped with the latest in life-saving, high-tech bling, along with some top guests who are responsible for developing the next generation of life-saving (or life-changing) technology. But are these products...

The Movers and Shakers are back in the pub and this week they're staring fear square in the eyes, and talking about a major fear: cognitive decline. What is the difference between Parkinsonian dementia and Alzheimer's? How does Parkinson's impact your chances of getting dementia? And when does forgetting your keys, of the neighbour's son's wife's surname, stop simply being a function of getting ol...

From high-octane skiing to walking football – via table tennis lessons and golf's Pakinson's mulligan – the Movers and Shakers have plenty of experience with the world of sports. But with such a mixed ability group, are they getting the most out of the sporting offerings of the Parkinson's community? And what does taking up a sport offer, socially, in addition to the obvious fitness benefits? For...

The Movers and Shakers are back in the pub and, at Paul's insistence, they're discussing the embarrassing bits of the Parkinson's experience. From issues in the bathroom to troubles in the bedroom, we'll be giving voice to the side of Parkinson's that's rarely discussed. We'll also be checking in with a couple who had a unique experience with Parkinson's medication, and we have an appearance in th...

The Movers and Shakers are back in the pub to kickstart series 3! And what better way to mark this new beginning than by picking up where the last series left off: with the attempt to write a charter for Parkinson's care in the UK. The gang have been speaking to international Parkinson's groups and collating your thoughts and recommendations, and they're here to announce the BIG FIVE charter commi...

Before season three starts next month, we wanted to bring you an update on the marvellous brain of Paul Mayhew-Archer, which is now partially electrified. At the end of last year, Paul underwent Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) a procedure that Gillian has previously undergone. Now, at the start of 2024, he's had the electrodes switched on. So what impact is the DBS having on Paul? How optimistic does...

On this, the final episode of series 2 of Movers and Shakers, we're gathering at Casa Lacey-Solymar for mince pieces, sherry, and an important discussion about what can be done to help people with Parkinson's across the country. In the coming months, we'll be drawing up the Parky Charter and presenting it to the government, offering them actionable suggestions for improving the lives of Parkinson'...

Ho ho ho, the Movers and Shakers are back – but this time they're not in the pub but in Gillian's Hampstead home. For this episode, the penultimate instalment of the series, the gang are answering your letters and emails. How did Paul's DBS surgery go? Does the Judge speak French? And will Jeremy get into bass fishing? Find out on this special Christmas mailbag edition of Movers and Shakers . Pres...

The Movers and Shakers are back in the Notting Hill pub – this time with no fewer than THREE guests – to discuss one of the positive side effects of the condition: a burst of creativity. From Salvador Dalí to our own Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Parkinson's has been fuel to the creative fire. So how can we all better channel that urge to create? Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mar...

The Movers and Shakers are back in the Notting Hill pub to talk about the inadvertent and unwanted byproducts of their medication. Bad side effects range from motor disorders to impulsivity disorders. Are we being properly warned about the risks of our medicines? And how can we control some of the more debilitating side effects? The gang are joined by Professor Alastair Noyce to get his take on th...

This week, the Movers and Shakers – minus a holidaying Jeremy – are joined by their children. What's it like to see a parent diagnosed? How does it change the family dynamics? And how do expectations about the future colour the present moment? Join the Movers and Shakers for a heartwarming and revealing chat with their nearest and dearests – and hopefully this inspires some conversations among the...

As listeners to Movers and Shakers over the past year will know, Paul Mayhew-Archer has been on the waiting list for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery. Finally, the time has come for Paul to head to the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, to have a touch of brain surgery. But will it all run smoothly? This is the first part of what we hope will be a two-part audio diary, as Paul prepares for the...

The Movers and Shakers are back in the Notting Hill pub for a pint of bitter and a Scotch egg. Wait, what's that? The Scotch egg is off the menu due to its high protein content? Jeremy won't be pleased... This week we're talking about diet: from omelettes to avocados, milk chocolate to kimchi. What makes your Parkinsons worse and what could possibly make it better? The gang are joined by top exper...

Now for something somewhat different: the Movers and Shakers are back in the Notting Hill pub, except they've been replaced by their partners. Wives and husband (singular) gather round the microphones to talk about the flip-side of the Parkinson's equation. How does the condition impact our loved ones? How does it change the balance of a relationship? And what does it mean when you go from "partne...