{"podcast":{"title":"This is Parkinson's","slug":"this-is-parkinson-s-7724134","podcast_index_feed_id":7724134,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/thisisparkinsons","website_url":"https://thisisparkinsons.org","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8edf04f2-124f-11f1-929d-cf51699e9ec2/image/029ceb1d399cdfe9b22525a0097af6c0.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"This is Parkinson's","episode_count":12,"summary":"In 2014, journalist Lisa Volenec was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. She stayed silent for years - until now. This is Parkinson's is her wayof 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. This half-hour + video/audio podcast will be available on Wednesdays on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. 🩵 Thank you for watching or listening! We appreciate your support. ꕤ For more information: thisisparkinsons.org ꕤ To help and donate: https://bit.ly/thisisparkinsonsdonate","last_synced_at":"2026-06-18T04:18:34.548293+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-is-parkinson-s-7724134"},"episode":{"title":"Ep. 8 From Caregiver to Activist: Dr. George Ackerman and a Son’s Promise","slug":"ep-8-from-caregiver-to-activist-dr-george-ackerman-and-a-son-s-promise","published_at":"2026-04-29T14:38:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-is-parkinson-s-7724134/ep-8-from-caregiver-to-activist-dr-george-ackerman-and-a-son-s-promise","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-is-parkinson-s-7724134","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/CTCPO8886174530.mp3","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/CTCPO8886174530.mp3","summary":"\"We treat our animals better than our loved ones.\" This heartbreaking realization fueled Dr. George Ackerman’s transition from a career in law and policing to becoming one of the most dedicated Parkinson’s disease advocates in the world. In this deeply personal episode, Lisa Volenec sits down \"knee-to-knee\" with George to discuss his organization \"Together For Sharon\" and the reality of being a caregiver during his mother Sharon’s silent 18-year battle. George opens up about the \"Sharonisms\" he misses most, the trauma of Parkinson’s hallucinations and delusions, and why he coined the term \"secondary Parkinson’s\" for the family members who hold their loved ones' hands until their very last breath. In this episode, we explore: The Silent Struggle: Why many patients hide their diagnosis to avoid \"burdening\" their families. The caregiver's journey: Navigating the healthcare system, from movement disorder specialists to the need for \"death with dignity.\" A Legacy in Ink: George’s mission to educate the next generation through his Parkinson's children’s book and his upcoming documentary. Advocacy vs. Family: The emotional tug-of-war between fighting for a cure and being present for those still here. Whether you are a caregiver, a patient, or someone navigating grief, George’s story is a powerful reminder that while we may feel alone in the dark, there is a global community fighting to turn on the light. ━━━━━━ 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…","meta_description":"\"We treat our animals better than our loved ones.\" This heartbreaking realization fueled Dr. George Ackerman’s transition from a career in law and policin…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2264,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/this-is-parkinson-s-7724134/episodes/ep-8-from-caregiver-to-activist-dr-george-ackerman-and-a-son-s-promise/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/this-is-parkinson-s-7724134/ep-8-from-caregiver-to-activist-dr-george-ackerman-and-a-son-s-promise.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}