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This is Parkinson's: Daily Summaries Delivered
by This is Parkinson's
In 2014, journalist Lisa Volenec was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. She stayed silent for years - until now. This is Parkinson's is her way of breaking the silence and giving a voice to a community of more than 10 million people worldwide living with this incurable condition. Drawing on her years as a reporter, Lisa leads thoughtful, revealing conversations with people living with Parkinson’s, caregivers, and experts, because no two Parkinson’s journeys are the same. With episodes grounded in honesty, humor, and heart, this podcast is Lisa’s mission: to challenge stigma, build empathy, and create a place where people living with Parkinson’s feel seen, heard, and less alone.
Latest Episodes
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- Sep 9, 202631 min
Navigating a Parkinson’s Diagnosis: Care Teams, Mental Health, & Medication--Dr. Erin Cameron-Smith
In this episode of This Is Parkinson's, host Lisa Volenec sits down with Dr. Erin Cameron-Smith, a Movement Disorder Specialist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, to uncover the realities of the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease. They explore why Parkinson's cases are skyrocketing—especially among younger individuals and women—and unpack the "Parkinson's Iceberg," focusing on hidden non-motor symptoms like apathy, depression, and compulsive behaviors. Dr. Smith shares crucial advice on assembling a multidisciplinary care team, navigating the emotional burden of a new diagnosis, and how care partners can protect their own well-being. Plus, discover the latest reasons for optimism in Parkinson's research, from targeted exercise to emerging therapies.
- Jul 30, 202637 min
Ep. 15 Loving Through Parkinson’s: Kimberly Schlapman on Faith, Family and Music | This is Parkinson’s Podcast
This episode of This Is Parkinson’s is straight from the heart, host Lisa Volenec sits down with Kimberly Schlapman—member of the Grammy Award–winning country group Little Big Town. Kimberly opens her heart about her mother’s 21-year journey with Parkinson’s disease. Together, they talk candidly about: The subtle early signs that appeared years before diagnosis. How she and her siblings operate as a unified team to manage care. The emotional reality of "anticipatory grief" when caring for a parent as roles shift. The soothing power of old church hymns and music therapy for anxiety and Parkinson’s symptoms. Finding silver linings, holding onto hope, and looking forward to future breakthroughs in Parkinson's research. Whether you are a caregiver, a family member supporting a loved one with Parkinson's, or looking for an uplifting story of love and resilience, this episode offers comfort, connection, and reassurance that you are never alone on this journey. ✨ Follow & Subscribe to This Is Parkinson’s Podcast 👉 Don't forget to follow, rate, and share this episode to help amplify the stories that spark real change! Hit that Follow button to join our community. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or an advocate, we’re here to show you that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. ━━━━━━ ꕤ Support the mission of This is Parkinson’s Donate here: https://bit.ly/thisisparkinsonsdonate ━━━━━━ ꕤ Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisparkinsonsofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisparkinsons ━━━━━━ ꕤ About This is Parkinson’s: This is Parkinson’s is a nonprofit storytelling platform dedicated to sharing honest conversations about life with Parkinson’s disease. Through interviews with patients, caregivers, advocates, and experts, TIP aims to educate, reduce stigma, and build a community around the realities of living with Parkinson’s. Learn more: https://www.thisisparkinsons.org Contact: info@thisisparkinsons.org ━━━━━━ ꕤ 🔔 🩵 ⟢ Thank you for watching and supporting TIP. Your support helps amplify the voices of the Parkinson’s community and brings greater awareness to this disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jul 15, 202640 min
Ep. 14 Embracing Your Truth: Makeup, Resilience and Parkinson’s featuring Molly R. Stern | This is Parkinson’s Podcast
On this episode of This is Parkinson’s, Lisa Volenec has a profoundly moving and inspiring conversation with the incredible Molly R. Stern, a celebrated Hollywood makeup artist who recently joined the Michael J. Fox Foundation's Patient Council. In this episode of This is Parkinson’s, Molly opens up about her deeply personal journey leading up to her Parkinson’s diagnosis—navigating major life changes, uncovering her symptoms, and the emotional challenge of hiding her reality while working in the spotlight. With her signature warmth, humor, and resilience, Molly shares how stepping into her authentic truth transformed her experience, leading her to discover profound self-love and the incredible strength of the Parkinson’s community. From touching moments of vulnerability to practical, empowering makeup hacks for those with tremors (including her favorite accessible brands), this conversation is a beautiful reminder that a diagnosis doesn't diminish your light. Tune in for a dose of genuine inspiration, shared laughter, and a testament to the fact that game truly recognizes game. 👉 Don't forget to follow, rate, and share this episode to help amplify the stories that spark real change! Hit that Follow button to join our community. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or an advocate, we’re here to show you that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. ━━━━━━ ꕤ Support the mission of This is Parkinson’s Donate here: https://bit.ly/thisisparkinsonsdonate ━━━━━━ ꕤ Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisparkinsonsofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisparkinsons ━━━━━━ ꕤ About This is Parkinson’s: This is Parkinson’s is a nonprofit storytelling platform dedicated to sharing honest conversations about life with Parkinson’s disease. Through interviews with patients, caregivers, advocates, and experts, TIP aims to educate, reduce stigma, and build a community around the realities of living with Parkinson’s. Learn more: https://www.thisisparkinsons.org Contact: info@thisisparkinsons.org ━━━━━━ ꕤ 🔔 🩵 ⟢ Thank you for watching and supporting TIP. Your support helps amplify the voices of the Parkinson’s community and brings greater awareness to this disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jul 8, 202630 min
Ep.13 Reaching New Heights With a Dopamine Pump. Jen Zupon’s Story | This is Parkinson’s Podcast
What if a tiny device could turn the tide on your Parkinson’s journey? In this episode of This is Parkinson’s, Lisa Volenec chats with Jen Zupon, an energetic and passionate Parkinson’s advocate and mentor who has become the "poster child" for the dopamine pump. If you’re tired of the constant "on/off" cycle of medication, the rigid alarms, and the physical exhaustion of managing Parkinson’s, this conversation is for you. Jen shares her raw, unfiltered experience of getting the dopamine pump, how it’s enabled her to return to an active lifestyle—including rock climbing—and why she believes community and purpose are just as vital as any treatment. In this episode, we cover: The Dopamine Pump: How a steady state of medication eliminated "off" periods and changed Jen’s daily life. Navigating the Journey: Candid advice on dealing with the highs and lows of a new diagnosis. Finding Purpose: Why Jen chooses to mentor others and use her story to advocate for the Parkinson’s community. Active Living: The surprising role of rock climbing and boxing in managing symptoms and boosting mental health. Jen’s story isn’t just about a medical device; it’s a masterclass in resilience, pivoting when challenges arise, and finding the "something good" even in a chronic diagnosis. Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an inspiring story! 👉 Don't forget to follow, rate, and share this episode to help amplify the stories that spark real change! Hit that Follow button to join our community. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or an advocate, we’re here to show you that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. ━━━━━━ ꕤ Support the mission of This is Parkinson’s Donate here: https://bit.ly/thisisparkinsonsdonate ━━━━━━ ꕤ Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisparkinsonsofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisparkinsons ━━━━━━ ꕤ About This is Parkinson’s: This is Parkinson’s is a nonprofit storytelling platform dedicated to sharing honest conversations about life with Parkinson’s disease. Through interviews with patients, caregivers, advocates, and experts, TIP aims to educate, reduce stigma, and build a community around the realities of living with Parkinson’s. Learn more: https://www.thisisparkinsons.org Contact: info@thisisparkinsons.org ━━━━━━ ꕤ 🔔 🩵 ⟢ Thank you for watching and supporting TIP. Your support helps amplify the voices of the Parkinson’s community and brings greater awareness to this disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jun 17, 202639 min
Ep. 12 Choosing Joy Over Fear with Donna Parkhurst | This is Parkinson's Podcast
A Parkinson's diagnosis can radically alter your world, but it doesn't mean you have to borrow trouble from tomorrow. In this episode of This is Parkinson’s, Lisa Volenec is joined by content creator Donna Parkhurst (@movedbyparkinsons on Instagram) to discuss her fast-growing advocacy journey, navigating early-onset idiopathic Parkinson's symptoms, and managing chronic anxiety. After watching her mother navigate an aggressive form of Parkinson's, Donna found herself facing the exact same symptoms years later, culminating in an official diagnosis in November 2025. Instead of keeping her diagnosis quiet, Donna allowed a "fire to be lit within her." She has since built a vibrant, fast-growing social media community where she shares her raw, unfiltered lived experience. In this episode, Donna shares the fierce words from her sister that kept her from rolling over, how she handles online trolls who claim she "doesn't look sick enough," and why validating the invisible symptoms of Parkinson's is essential for mental health. In this episode, we dive into: The emotional transition from Parkinson's care partner to a diagnosed patient. Overcoming the initial fear, denial, and anxiety of a neurological diagnosis. Dealing with social media critics and the toxic "you don't look sick enough" stigma. Understanding the invisible symptoms of Parkinson's (and why compliments can sometimes feel invalidating). Practical mindfulness tools for managing severe Parkinson's-related anxiety. Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an inspiring story! 👉 Don't forget to follow, rate, and share this episode to help amplify the stories that spark real change! Hit that Follow button to join our community. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or an advocate, we’re here to show you that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. ━━━━━━ ꕤ Support the mission of This is Parkinson’s Donate here: https://bit.ly/thisisparkinsonsdonate ━━━━━━ ꕤ Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisparkinsonsofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisparkinsons ━━━━━━ ꕤ About This is Parkinson’s: This is Parkinson’s is a nonprofit storytelling platform dedicated to sharing honest conversations about life with Parkinson’s disease. Through interviews with patients, caregivers, advocates, and experts, TIP aims to educate, reduce stigma, and build a community around the realities of living with Parkinson’s. Learn more: https://www.thisisparkinsons.org Contact: info@thisisparkinsons.org ━━━━━━ ꕤ 🔔 🩵 ⟢ Thank you for watching and supporting TIP. Your support helps amplify the voices of the Parkinson’s community and brings greater awareness to this disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- May 20, 202637 min
Ep. 11 The Chemicals Around Us, Real Causes Of Parkinson’s: Dr. Ray Dorsey | This is Parkinson's Podcast
Is Parkinson’s disease truly genetic, or is it an unnatural consequence of our environment? In this powerful episode of This Is Parkinson's, host Lisa Volenec is joined by world-renowned neurologist Dr. Ray Dorsey, co-author of Ending Parkinson’s Disease. Together, they expose how hidden chemical exposures in our food, water, and air are driving the global spike in neurological disorders—and what we can do to stop it. In this episode, we discuss: The Genetic Myth: Why 87% of Americans diagnosed with Parkinson's have absolutely no family history or genetic risk factors. The Toxic "Big Three": How common chemicals like Paraquat (weed killer), TCE (industrial degreaser), and chlorpyrifos are targeting the human nervous system. Real-World Exposure Risks: The surprising data linking Parkinson's risks to living near golf courses, agricultural areas, and contaminated military bases like Camp Lejeune. Actionable Prevention Strategies: Dr. Dorsey’s top practical, low-cost tips to protect your remaining dopamine-producing nerve cells (including water filtration and air purification). Whether you are living with a diagnosis, caring for a loved one, or looking to protect your family's future, this episode provides an essential roadmap for preventative brain health. Resources Mentioned: Join the global movement: PD Avengers Support the mission: This Is Parkinson’s Non-Profit 👉 Don't forget to follow, rate, and share this episode to help amplify the stories that spark real change! Hit that Follow button to join our community. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or an advocate, we’re here to show you that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. ━━━━━━ ꕤ Support the mission of This is Parkinson’s Donate here: https://bit.ly/thisisparkinsonsdonate ━━━━━━ ꕤ Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisparkinsonsofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisparkinsons ━━━━━━ ꕤ About This is Parkinson’s: This is Parkinson’s is a nonprofit storytelling platform dedicated to sharing honest conversations about life with Parkinson’s disease. Through interviews with patients, caregivers, advocates, and experts, TIP aims to educate, reduce stigma, and build a community around the realities of living with Parkinson’s. Learn more: https://www.thisisparkinsons.org Contact: info@thisisparkinsons.org ━━━━━━ ꕤ 🔔 🩵 ⟢ Thank you for watching and supporting TIP. Your support helps amplify the voices of the Parkinson’s community and brings greater awareness to this disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- May 13, 202632 min
Ep. 10 Finding Help, Then Finding Hope. Luke and Allison’s Story | This is Parkinson’s Podcast
When the "Standard" Plan Changes: Gene Therapy, Godwinks, and the Power of Persistence. On this episode of This Is Parkinson’s, host Lisa Volenec sits down with her friend Allison Stieb for a raw, conversational look at the hurdles of seeking care from rural Nebraska. So, what do you do when you’re told there’s a nine-month wait just to see a specialist? If you’re Allison Stieb, you keep pushing until you find a "Godwink." Allison shares the incredible story of how a chance connection led her husband, Luke, from a frustrating standstill to the "ground floor" of a cutting-edge gene therapy clinical trial at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. We also dive into the reality of being a caregiver, the sticker shock of private insurance, and the emotional rollercoaster of pivoting from Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to a brand-new medical frontier. In this episode, we talk about: The "Squeaky Wheel" Effect: How persistence (and a little help from friends) can bypass nine-month waiting lists. Gene Therapy vs. DBS: Understanding the "one and done" potential of new clinical trials. The Caregiver’s Perspective: Navigating the shift from independent life to a "new normal" on the farm. Financial Realities: The high cost of Parkinson’s and the unexpected relief of trial-funded care. Hit that Follow button to join our community. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or an advocate, we’re here to show you that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. ━━━━━━ ꕤ Support the mission of This is Parkinson’s Donate here: https://bit.ly/thisisparkinsonsdonate ━━━━━━ ꕤ Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisparkinsonsofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisparkinsons ━━━━━━ ꕤ About This is Parkinson’s: This is Parkinson’s is a nonprofit storytelling platform dedicated to sharing honest conversations about life with Parkinson’s disease. Through interviews with patients, caregivers, advocates, and experts, TIP aims to educate, reduce stigma, and build a community around the realities of living with Parkinson’s. Learn more: https://www.thisisparkinsons.org Contact: info@thisisparkinsons.org ━━━━━━ ꕤ 🔔 🩵 ⟢ Thank you for watching and supporting TIP. Your support helps amplify the voices of the Parkinson’s community and brings greater awareness to this disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- May 13, 202633 min
Ep.9 Original Besties: How a Parkinson's Diagnosis Changed Our Friendship
What does a lifelong friendship look like when it’s met with a life-altering diagnosis? In this episode of This Is Parkinson’s, host Lisa Volenec sits down with her best friend of over 50 years, Dawn Blankenship. From being born three days apart to navigating the "bomb" of a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2014, their bond has remained unshakable. Lisa and Dawn pull back the curtain on the "off" episodes, the reality of Parkinson’s tremors, and the terrifying moments—like a trip to the ER—that test the limits of support. But in true Lisa and Dawn fashion, they also find the humor in the heavy, discussing everything from "blinged-out self-defense kits" to the impulsive TikTok shopping that can sometimes accompany a PD journey. In this episode, we explore: The Diagnosis Call: Memories from the day the "bomb" dropped and how Dawn processed the news. Support vs. Helplessness: What it’s like to witness a loved one’s physical struggles and the power of just "showing up." Humor as Medicine: Why being able to laugh at the "ugly" parts of PD is a survival tool. A Letter to the Future: Lisa and Dawn open letters they wrote to themselves six months ago, reflecting on clarity, pressure, and self-doubt. Whether you are a Parkinson’s caregiver, a patient, or someone who simply believes in the power of a "soul-sister" friendship, this episode is a testament to the fact that while Parkinson’s is part of the story, it doesn't get to be the lead character. ━━━━━━ ꕤ Support the mission of This is Parkinson’s Donate here: https://bit.ly/thisisparkinsonsdonate ━━━━━━ ꕤ Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisparkinsonsofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisparkinsons ━━━━━━ ꕤ About This is Parkinson’s: This is Parkinson’s is a nonprofit storytelling platform dedicated to sharing honest conversations about life with Parkinson’s disease. Through interviews with patients, caregivers, advocates, and experts, TIP aims to educate, reduce stigma, and build a community around the realities of living with Parkinson’s. Learn more: https://www.thisisparkinsons.org Contact: info@thisisparkinsons.org ━━━━━━ ꕤ 🔔 🩵 ⟢ Thank you for watching and supporting TIP. Your support helps amplify the voices of the Parkinson’s community and brings greater awareness to this disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About This is Parkinson's
In 2014, journalist Lisa Volenec was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. She stayed silent for years - until now. This is Parkinson's is her way of breaking the silence and giving a voice to a community of more than 10 million people worldwide living with this incurable condition. Drawing on her years as a reporter, Lisa leads thoughtful, revealing conversations with people living with Parkinson’s, caregivers, and experts, because no two Parkinson’s journeys are the same. With episodes grounded in honesty, humor, and heart, this podcast is Lisa’s mission: to challenge stigma, build empathy, and create a place where people living with Parkinson’s feel seen, heard, and less alone.
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