Season's Greetings from 2 Parkies in a Pod !
Dave and Kuhan get in the festive spirit as they open the postbag and share some truly inspiring stories from the community ..including the challenges of running a nuclear power plant with Parkinson's, more remarkable DNA stories and we hear from friends.. old and new.

Plus 2 Parkies in a Pod receives its own community award !
As always - honest conversations, real lives, and a bit of festive cheer along the way…
We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Many people living with Parkinson’s struggle to talk about their diagnosis. Fear, stigma, and uncertainty can keep people silent for years. Even Michael J. Fox kept his Parkinson’s diagnosis private for almost a decade.

This week on 2 Parkies in a Pod, we meet Scott and Paul, who share powerful, deeply personal coming out stories — not just about Parkinson’s, but about identity, isolation, and finding the courage to be seen.

Paul reflects on how closely his Parkinson’s journey mirrored his experience of coming out as gay:

“I guess I dealt with Parkinson’s in the same way I dealt with realising I was gay… by not talking to anyone about it for many years"

Scott speaks honestly about living with Parkinson’s while single, gay, and without family support:

“Being single, gay, with no family support, I did feel very isolated — and there weren’t many people I could see in the community that I had anything in common with.”

In one of the episode’s most raw moments, Scott also opens up about experiencing suicidal thoughts and explains how the helplessness he felt during tests for deep brain stimulation treatment resurfaced memories of past sexual abuse. His honesty shines a light on the complex mental health challenges faced by many people with Parkinson’s — challenges that often remain unspoken.

This is a story about vulnerability, survival, and connection. A story of adversity, community and ultimately ...gratitude.

Parkinson’s and The Invisible Man (Scott’s YouTube channel)

https://www.youtube.com/@Parkinsonsandtheinvisibleman

Parkinson’s UK Mental Health

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information/symptoms/behavioural/mental-health

Podcast Club

https://localsupport.parkinsons.org.uk/activity/young-onset-parkinsons-online-group

LGBTQIA+ Network

https://localsupport.parkinsons.org.uk/activity/lgbtqia-network-meeting-online

DBS Network

https://forms.gle/ApDHqGaDF38n6wYa7

Join our yoga group

https://dawnwilliamsyoga.co.uk

1 in 3 living alone research insights

https://denpruexeter.nihr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DeNPRU-Exeter_living-alone-with-a-progressive-neurological-condition_policy-brief.pdf

Par-Con 2025 mental health video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-PwOYRSe4Q&list=PL1ixQpbHed3Y9_jS-WuZePcFa7N_O7aNi&index=7&pp=iAQB0gcJCSkKAYcqIYzv

Hear Me charity

https://www.parkinsons.me/hearme

Nutrition PD

http://prksn.uk/47RAlmu

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Contact us at:

hello@2parkiesinapod.com

In this episode, we meet Lucy (not her real name), who shares her extraordinary Parkinson’s journey.

Lucy discovered she has a genetic form of Parkinson’s known as LRRK2. What started as a simple Ancestry DNA test to explore her family roots soon led to life-changing revelations — uncovering far more than she ever expected.

Before releasing this episode, we sought advice from Lucy’s counsellor, and we’ve taken every step to protect the privacy of everyone involved in this remarkable story.

If you’ve been affected by the topics discussed, or want to learn more about genetic Parkinson’s, you can contact the Parkinson’s UK Helpline for confidential advice and support:

📞 0808 800 0303

📧 hello@parkinsons.org.uk

Donor Conceived Support

https://donorconceiveduk.org.uk (peer led support)

https://www.uhliverpool.nhs.uk/services/service-finder/donor-conceived-register (national register)

EJS ACT PD Get Involved

https://www.ejsactpd.com/

Watch 2 Parkies at Par-Con

https://youtu.be/H7IFQfcp2os

Neuro Heroes

https://www.neuroheroes.co.uk/

Parkinson’s Europe Work Survey

https://parkinsonseurope.org/parkinsonslife/careers-cut-short-financial-loss-and-fear-of-stigma-new-survey-working-with-parkinsons/

Parkinson’s UK Nurse appeal

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/donate/donate-great-care

Neuralink

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/oct/first-uk-patient-uses-thought-control-computer-hours-after-neuralink-implant

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