When Life Gives You Parkinson's podcast

When Life Gives You Parkinson's

Larry Gifford has Parkinson’s disease, and he wants to talk about it. When Life Gives You Parkinson’s chronicles Larry’s journey following diagnosis at age 45, but he knows he’s only part of the story. The podcast gives voice to the fascinating people that make up the Parkinson’s community and beyond — his family, his fellow people with Parkinson’s, care partners, advocates, researchers and healthcare providers. Through these interviews, the podcast informs and inspires others to share their own stories revealing the challenges and growth offered by the Parkinson’s journey. Larry is a seasoned broadcaster and the podcast is co-hosted by then-radio personality Niki Reitmayer until 2020 when Larry’s wife Rebecca takes on the role. Special thank you to our partners. Presenting partner is Parkinson Canada, content and promotional partner Spotlight YOPD, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Parkinson’s IQ + You, PD Avengers, World Parkinson Congress #WPC2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

Larry Gifford has Parkinson’s disease, and he wants to talk about it. When Life Gives You Parkinson’s chronicles Larry’s journey following diagnosis at age 45, but he knows he’s only part of the story. The podcast gives voice to the fascinating people that make up the Parkinson’s community and beyond — his family, his fellow people with Parkinson’s, care partners, advocates, researchers and healthcare providers. Through these interviews, the podcast informs and inspires others to share their own stories revealing the challenges and growth offered by the Parkinson’s journey. Larry is a seasoned broadcaster and the podcast is co-hosted by then-radio personality Niki Reitmayer until 2020 when Larry’s wife Rebecca takes on the role. Special thank you to our partners. Presenting partner is Parkinson Canada, content and promotional partner Spotlight YOPD, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Parkinson’s IQ + You, PD Avengers, World Parkinson Congress #WPC2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

 

#130

The Parkinson's Plan with Dr. Ray Dorsey and Dr. Michael Okun

In this compelling episode of When Life Gives You Parkinson's podcast, Larry sits down wit... more

25 Aug 2025

57 MINS

57:30

25 Aug 2025


#129

PD Avengers: REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD)

PD Avengers co-founders Soania Mathur and Larry Gifford discuss the challenges of REM Slee... more

05 Mar 2025

05 MINS

05:13

05 Mar 2025


#128

PD Avengers Weekly Chat - Balancing Life and PD

The PD Avengers discuss the challenges of balancing life with Parkinson's disease, emphasi... more

05 Feb 2025

13 MINS

13:16

05 Feb 2025


#127

PD Avengers: What have you learned about yourself since your diagnosis?

PD Avengers co-founders Larry Gifford, Soania Mathur, and Tim Hague Sr. discussed various ... more

28 Jan 2025

08 MINS

08:41

28 Jan 2025


#126

PD Avengers: Three things to focus on in the new year

In the PD Avengers Weekly Chat titled "3 Things to Make 2025 Great!", co-founders Larry Gi... more

24 Jan 2025

06 MINS

06:39

24 Jan 2025


#125

Choosing DBS

Supported by Abbott. Podcast Summary: Overview of DBS for Parkinson's Disease In this epis... more

27 Sep 2024

57 MINS

57:51

27 Sep 2024


#124

From Awareness to Action: The Final Episode

In this bittersweet finale of "When Life Gives You Parkinson's," we reflect on the incredi... more

20 Mar 2024

10 MINS

10:35

20 Mar 2024


#123

Dialing in DBS and Sorting Through the Data with Rune Labs CEO Brian Pepin

In the latest episode of "When Life Gives You Parkinson’s," Larry Gifford shares insights ... more

23 Jan 2024

32 MINS

32:59

23 Jan 2024


#122

DBS: I Helped Surgeons Operate on my Brain

In this episode of "When Life Gives You Parkinson’s," Larry and Rebecca dive into Larry's ... more

22 Nov 2023

39 MINS

39:03

22 Nov 2023


#121

DBS Pre-Op Talks: Love and Transition

Season 6, Episode 6 SHOW NOTES                                                            ... more

18 Oct 2023

31 MINS

31:20

18 Oct 2023


#120

Brains and Drills: What to Expect with DBS Surgery

In this episode, Larry and his partner, Rebecca, discuss what to expect right before, duri... more

11 Oct 2023

31 MINS

31:54

11 Oct 2023


#119

Navigating Deep Brain Stimulation: The Pros, Cons, and Realities

In this episode of "When Life Gives You Parkinson's," Larry Gifford and Rebecca Gifford de... more

04 Oct 2023

29 MINS

29:45

04 Oct 2023


#118

Inside Larry's DBS Journey: Meeting the Brain Surgeon

In this episode of "When Life Gives You Parkinson's," Larry and Rebecca dive into Larry's ... more

20 Sep 2023

22 MINS

22:49

20 Sep 2023


#117

My Eye-Opening DBS "Off" Challenge

Hosts Larry and Rebecca Gifford are preparing for Larry's DBS surgery scheduled for Octobe... more

08 Sep 2023

24 MINS

24:26

08 Sep 2023


#116

WPC2023: Parkinson's Without Borders

[Donate to the World Parkinson Coalition] (https://www.worldpdcoalition.org/donations/dona... more

04 Aug 2023

49 MINS

49:41

04 Aug 2023


#115

Harnessing the Healing Power of Infrared Light

Larry & Rebecca Gifford dive into the growing interest and research being conducted around... more

31 May 2023

43 MINS

43:57

31 May 2023


#114

Biomarker Breakthrough w/ Debi Brooks CEO of The Michael J Fox Foundation

The banner headline on the homepage of the [Michael J. Fox Foundation’s] (www.michaeljfox.... more

19 Apr 2023

33 MINS

33:14

19 Apr 2023


#113

Is Trichloroethylene an invisible cause of Parkinson’s?

Trichloroethylene (TCE). You cannot see it or smell it. It could be in the air you breath,... more

29 Mar 2023

43 MINS

43:24

29 Mar 2023


#112

The Promise of Lithium as a Parkinson’s Disease Modifying Treatment

Lithium is more than a drug, it’s the third element on the Periodic Table of Elements. Sym... more

01 Feb 2023

50 MINS

50:20

01 Feb 2023


#111

Muhammad Ali’s Parkinson’s Journey w/ May May Ali and Michael S. Okun, MD

January 17 marks the 81st anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest Parkinson’s advo... more

31 Jan 2023

37 MINS

37:18

31 Jan 2023


#110

I Don’t Care Just Call It Apathy

One of the dark symptoms of Parkinson’s is apathy. Describing apathy is a bit like describ... more

23 Nov 2022

49 MINS

49:55

23 Nov 2022


#109

Live Inspired with John O'Leary

When John O’Leary was a nine-year-old boy, he was burned on 100% of his body. He was in hi... more

02 Nov 2022

55 MINS

55:56

02 Nov 2022


#108

Being Well with Parkinson’s

Kat Hill and Nancy Peate are the authors of Being Well with a Chronic Illness: A Guide to ... more

19 Oct 2022

46 MINS

46:52

19 Oct 2022


#107

What’s Your Superpower? Feat. Geoff Constable

Geoff Constable is a PD Avenger and an Ambassador for the World Parkinson Congress 2023 in... more

12 Oct 2022

50 MINS

50:26

12 Oct 2022


#106

What’s New and Now in Parkinson’s

Updates on several stories we’ve shared on the podcast. Reactions to the three-minute test... more

22 Sep 2022

38 MINS

38:05

22 Sep 2022


#105

A 3-minute test for a Parkinson’s diagnosis

This is a breakthrough, breaking news episode featuring Professor Perdita Barran, Universi... more

07 Sep 2022

30 MINS

30:11

07 Sep 2022


#104

I Was Clueless About Caregiving

Dave Iverson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2004. He is a founding member of The Michae... more

24 Aug 2022

31 MINS

31:32

24 Aug 2022


#103

Two women with Parkinson’s, 200 years apart

SUMMARY: In the book, “Mary & Me,” author Robyn Cotton draws upon her own experiences with... more

10 Aug 2022

38 MINS

38:55

10 Aug 2022


#102

Spinning Wheels

Larry & Rebecca Gifford highlight two Canadians with Parkinson’s who are sparking awarenes... more

20 Jul 2022

47 MINS

47:55

20 Jul 2022


#101

Down Under | A Spark, A Warrior, and World Parkinson's Day

This is part one of three of a mini-series of episodes we are calling “Down Under.” Host L... more

08 Apr 2022

31 MINS

31:37

08 Apr 2022