The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) announces the re-launch of its Parkinson’s Podcast — a monthly conversation hosted by Larry Gifford and designed to help people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their care partners stay informed on the latest topics in research and care.  


RELATED: MJFF Launches Podcast: Navigating COVID-19 with Parkinson’s


Diagnosed with PD at 45, Gifford sits on the Foundation’s Patient Council — an advisory group of individuals living with Parkinson’s who guide and counsel MJFF’s programmatic strategy. A native of Westerville, Ohio, Gifford is the host of the award-winning Curiouscast podcast When Life Gives You Parkinson’sfounder of the global advocacy group PD Avengers, and National Director of Talk Radio for Corus Entertainment in Canada. Earlier this year, Gifford hosted a limited series podcast for the Foundation on navigating Parkinson’s during the COVID-19 pandemic, a media release from MJFF explains.

Parkinson’s Podcast Discussion Topics

The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast, a Foundation offering since 2009, will continue its monthly cadence, offering conversation and analysis of a range of topics spanning Parkinson’s research and care, including:

  • Putting Parkinson’s science, drug development and policy issues in context
  • Making the most of Parkinson’s care with your doctor and care team
  • Staying active and combating isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic

“We’ve been fans of Larry’s own podcast since it launched in 2018, and the opportunity to bring his accessible, conversational style to our audience was one we couldn’t pass up. We hope people and families living with PD will tune in to learn more about the heartening progress in Parkinson’s drug development and all the ways our Foundation can help them become active in the nationwide Parkinson’s community.”

— Holly Teichholtz, MJFF’s chief marketing officer

The first episode of the relaunched MJFF Parkinson’s Podcast aired in July and brings tips for everyday people who want to advocate for public policy on behalf of those living with Parkinson’s. Episode guests explain the important role people with PD and their partners play in advocating for policy priorities by sharing their stories with lawmakers.

The second episode in the newly minted podcast explores the intersection of race and Parkinson’s and the value of inclusivity in speeding research. Guests share how the Foundation is working today to break down barriers to recruit and retain underrepresented communities in research.

Gifford takes over the podcast from Patient Council member Dave Iverson, a broadcast journalist, writer, editor and producer for PBS and NPR, who launched the podcast with MJFF more than 10 years ago, the release continues.

“The only reason I host a podcast on Parkinson’s is because I listened to a Dave Iverson interview and was inspired to share my story. Dave set the bar high by honoring people with PD, making complicated medical research easy to understand, being kind and generous. I hope I can inspire others to take action just like Dave did for me.”

— Larry Gifford

The podcast is available free of charge every month on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts. For more information, visit Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

[Source(s): Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PR Newswire]