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

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. Whether that's defying the condition or embracing it, there's always a silver lining to be found.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones.

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 project that's he's developing: a Parkinson's dashboard to help make sure that new patients are asked all the right questions in the weeks after a diagnosis.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones.

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 and humans.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones.

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. From golf and football to horse riding and – you guessed it – ping pong, this will be the inspiration you need to get off the couch and dust off those trainers!Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones.

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 playing field for biomedical research. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones.

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, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally 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 – whether that's domiciliary or residential – then this episode will guide you through the opportunities and pitfalls (and offers The Judge a chance to pick through the benefits system once again).Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones.

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 and the impact that the contemporary political push could have on the Parky community, the Movers & Shakers are joined in the pub by Lord Falconer, whose bill in the House of Lords has set out many of the expected parameters of this new attempt to change the law. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones.

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 minister Stephen Kinnock MP, and Parkinson's UK CEO Caroline Rassell.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs.Artwork by Till Lukat.PR by Sally Jones.