The Long Road to Hope
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Meet the people behind the story.
Episode 1. Navin P. Kumar
“Normally Parkinson’s, you would think that would end sports careers…. But guess what? I never got that memo. My athletic career began only after Parkinson’s.”
A USA medalist in table tennis, a movie actor and motivational speaker, Navin P. Kumar is living proof that people with Parkinson's can be whoever they choose to be, if they can follow their passions and ambitions.
Episode 2. Rachel DePietro
“Put on your armor, go in, tell the doctor what’s going on, and don’t stop until you get an answer.”
After five years of misdiagnosis, Rachel confronts her Young-Onset Parkinson’s Disease and tells the story of its effects on her life and the lives of her husband and two young daughters.
Episode 3. Jim Cosper
“The first Gulf War was the war I was in, doing salvage work in a harbor where we were covered with the smoke from the burning oil rigs. It would not turn morning until 10 o'clock.”
A military veteran and macro-photography hobbyist, Jim Cosper shares his diagnosis story and highlights the role of his spouse in experiencing Parkinson's together as a couple.
Episode 4. Phyllis Allen
“Everything I possible can learn or I can do, I do... and everyone should.”
Phyllis tells an intimate story beginning with taking care of her brother's Parkinson's, then being diagnosed with the disease herself and adapting to it through medication and exercise.
Episode 5. Amy Lindberg
“I am astounded quite frankly that these chemicals are still being used today, as frequently… as uniformly as they have been in the past, when they’ve been proven to be neurotoxic.”
Linking her Parkinson’s to the TCE toxicity of the water at Camp Lejeune where she lived with her family during the 1980s, Amy tells her story with an emphasis on environmental prevention.
Episode 6. Rick Geiser
“Everybody has a different passion... it's incredible what we could do as long as we find that passion and continue working towards it."
Since his time as a radar operator during the Air Traffic Control strike of 1981, Rick has been an advocate. Today, he continues his advocacy - now for those with Parkinson’s - and shares his personal strategies for dealing with the disease.
Episode 7. Larry Gifford
“I'm a storyteller, so I started a podcast, which started a movement... but you may have a different superpower than I do. What is it? What can YOU do?”
After mentally battling Parkinson's for 8 months, Larry took to his platform on radio to spread awareness and founded PD Avengers, a global alliance of more than 5000 people in 70+ countries who are taking action to catalyze change in how the disease is seen and treated.
Episode 8. Maria De Leon
“Don't ever think that you're being given a bad hand or that you're losing something, because in fact I think we're all gaining something by this, something positive."
A movement disorder neurologist who developed Parkinson's herself, Maria discusses the importance of affordable healthcare and self-advocacy as exemplified by her book "Parkinson's Diva.”
Episode 9. Tom Collins
“It only takes one person to start, and to bring other people in... if you can do that you can control the disease, the disease won't control you."
Tom explains his adaptation to Parkinson's through activities like golf, exercise, Rock Steady Boxing, and Speak Out therapy, and discusses the bigger picture of what it takes for the government to end the disease.
Episode 10. Nikita Krielaart
“Go easy on yourself and take time with discovering everything... because it will be hard on you. Just take it day by day."
Diagnosed at only 20 years old, Nikita's young-onset Parkinson's started manifesting its symptoms during her childhood. Realizing its uniqueness, Nikita talks about her story "to inspire, and encourage others to talk about Parkinson's, too."
Episode 11. Becca Miller
“My neurologist who diagnosed me said 'Take charge of your disease, don't let it take charge of you' and that was the best advice I have ever gotten."
A single mom and Yale professor of Psychiatry, Becca gives her own advice about dealing with Parkinson's and its effects on her life with her young daughter.
Episode 12. Omotola Thomas
“I felt like silence, being silent about Parkinson's equals subjugation, and I didn't want that so I decided to put myself out there, reach out to other people with Parkinson's."
Realizing the lack of representation of and resources for people with Parkinson's across Africa, Omotola founded Parkinson’s Africa, an organization dedicated to providing educational resources to those in Africa with the disease.