Join me as I speak with a panel of guests today including Molly Cupka, the Director of Sportrock Climbing Center, Alexandria and Founder of Up Ending Parkinsons. 

Molly is determined to spread the addictive sport that is rock climbing throughout the Parkinsons community. In addition, Molly is also dedicated to funding research and sharing simple, everyday adaptations that can slow the progression of Parkinsons Disease.  And she’s cool enough to be on the Today Show! 

Up Ending Parkinsons is anticipated to air on April 30th, 2024. 

What do Parkinson’s disease and an Ironman Triathlon have in common…Dr. Sara Whittingham

Dr. Sara Whittingham is an Air Force Veteran and Anesthesiologist at Cleveland Clinic, Marymount Hospital, and clinical faculty member at Northeast Ohio Medical University.  

She traveled the world caring for fellow service members and patients.  In Nov. 2020, at the age of 46, Sara’s life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease.

Sara won a chance to compete at the 2023 Ironman World Championship in Kona.  She used this opportunity to raise awareness about Parkinson’s Disease and how exercise can help people living with Parkinson’s, live a full life.

Time Hague runs the race of his life.

Tim Hague Sr. overcame the odds when he went from a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease to winning season #1 of The Amazing Race Canada.  

Listen in as he shares the lessons he learned from that experience.  His message is wrapped in the idea of having the strength to do your best, the courage to be content with what your best produces, and the will to persevere.

Billy Kennedy is an American basketball coach who has a winning career spanning almost three decades.  He talks candidly about his diagnosis during a career change, DBS surgery and his approach to living with Parkinson’s disease.  

Have you heard that exercise may slow the progression of Parkinson’s Disease?  Are you curious which types of exercise may help?

Please join me as I chat with Molly Cupka, Director of Sportrock Climbing Center in Alexandria, Virginia and Founder and President of Up Ending Parkinson’s.  In addition, two special guests, Teresa Bennett and Michelle Sloane,  join in the discussion of how rock climbing has impacted their quality of life. 

Molly discusses her passion for neuroscience and her love of climbing, which was a driving force in starting a nonprofit, Up Ending Parkinson’s, in May of 2022.  The mission of Up Ending Parkinson’s is to help people develop practices through education, lifestyle changes and rock climbing that will nourish the mind, body and soul. 

Do you have a parent living with Parkinson’s?  Can you imagine what it would be like to have both parents with Parkinson’s?

Please join me as I chat with Laura Mosley – Manthey, as she candidly shares her parent’s journey with Parkinson’s and the impact it has had on her life.  

Laura inspires those around her with her strong faith and her selfless giving in so many ways. 

Listen in as she talks about her family life, and the unexpected blessing of freedom to love her mom that came from this time.

Are you curious how nutrition affects Parkinson’s Disease?  Is there a Parkinson’s specific diet?  What about microbiome?  Please join me as I talk with Carley Rusch PhD, RDN, LDN as she discusses how nutrition impacts Parkinson’s symptoms.  

Carley coordinated a nutrition program at the UF Health Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases and her PhD research investigated the role of the Mediterranean diet on improving gastrointestinal function in Parkinson’s disease. She is published in Frontiers in Neurology and co-authored other work investigating the role of pre- and probiotics on gastrointestinal health.  She speaks for organizations like the Parkinson’s Foundation and her passion for nutrition and service was acknowledged when she was named the 2020 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year by the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Please join me as I speak with world Parkinson’s leader, Dr. Michael Okun.  Dr. Okun is a board-certified neurologist, movement disorders specialist, neuroscientist and author who practices with the philosophy that ‘the patient is the sun’ and should be at the center of all care decisions.

Dr. Okun co-founded and co-directs the internationally renowned Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases with his neurosurgeon partner and friend, Kelly Foote, MD. Since 2006.  He also serves as the Medical Advisor for the Parkinson’s Foundation.

In addition, Dr. Okun has authored 14 books related to living a full life with neurological disorders including Parkinson’s Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life and Ending Parkinson’s Disease.

Dr. Okun shares his insight and perspective on how to best manage Parkinson’s disease.  

Season 3 Episode 1: Jon Braddock is a licensed architect with a Masters Degree from MIT and a Bachelors Degree from the University of Florida.  

He was diagnosed with YOPD in Jan, 2020 and lives in Ponte Vedra, Florida with his wife and two kids. 

Join me as I talk to Jon about navigating Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease and coping with the disease during the “best” years of his life.