Hear, Here, Parkinson’s! Podcast

Episode 30: Steve Iseman, WPC Pedal to Phoenix, Team Route 66

Steve Iseman, from the WPC Pedal to Phoenix, Team Route 66 joins the Hear, Here Podcast to discuss his epic upcoming journey cycling to The World Parkinson Congress and sharing his story living with Parkinson's. 

Episode 29: Linda Olson, MD, WPC Board Member

On this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson’s Podcast, Linda Olson, MD, and WPC Board Member, joins hosts Eli Pollard, WPC Executive Director, and Edgar Valdmanis, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, for a candid and inspiring conversation.
Dr. Olson shares her extraordinary journey of living with Parkinson’s as a triple amputee, her path to becoming a radiologist, and the resilience and hope that guide her advocacy and commitment to living each day to the fullest while making a lasting impact in the Parkinson’s community.

Episode 28: Natasha Fothergill-Misbah, PhD Researcher & WPC 2026 Creativity Comms Member

In this episode of the Hear Here Parkinson’s Podcast, hosts Edgar Valdmanis, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, and Elizabeth “Eli” Pollard, WPC Executive Director, welcome researcher Natasha Fothergill-Misbah, PhD, who also serves on the WPC 2026 Creativity Committee. Natasha was a producer of the award-winning short documentary Shaking Hands with the Devil, which shines a light on Parkinson’s stigma and the barriers to medication access in Africa. The conversation explores the making of the film, its global impact, and the urgent need to address inequities in Parkinson’s care worldwide. 

Episode 27: Judi Spencer & Tomas Gisby, WPC Creativity & Music Committee

WPC Music Director Judi Spencer and musician Tomas Gisby—both members of the WPC 2026 Music and Creativity Committee—join Hear, Here Parkinson’s Podcast host and WPC Executive Director Eli Pollard for an engaging conversation about the role of music at the World Parkinson Congress. They share personal reflections from attending multiple Congresses and explore how music and creativity help connect and inspire the global Parkinson’s community.

Episode 26: John Cryan, Professor & Chair of the Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience at University College Cork

John Cryan, Professor & Chair of the Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience at University College Cork, Principal Investigator at APC Microbiome Ireland, and bestselling author, joins WPC 2026 Ambassador Tony Wilkinson (Ireland) for a bonus episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson Podcast. Prof. Cryan discusses his research at UCC, the link between microbiome science and Parkinson’s, and his appearance in the Netflix documentary Hack Your Health. Enjoy this special bonus episode from Ireland.

Episode 25: Dr. Mayela Rodriguez Violante, WPC 2026 Program Committee

Dr. Mayela Rodriguez Violante from Mexico who is on the WPC 2026 Program Committee joins the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast with WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, and guest host, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador Laura Olmos. 

Episode 24: Leslie Chambers, President & CEO, APDA, WPC Double Platinum Champion partner

Leslie Chambers, President & CEO, APDA, WPC Double Platinum Champion partner joins this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast with host, WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard. 

Episode 23: Elena Berti, MPSYCH and WPC 2026 Science Ambassador

In this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast, WPC 2026 Science Ambassador Elena Berti joins hosts Edgar Valdmanis and Eli Pollard to discuss her experience as a caregiver for her father with Parkinson’s, her work as a clinical psychologist, her ongoing PhD studies in neuroscience at Tor Vergata University in Rome, and her research and insights from attending the World Parkinson Congress.

Episode 22: Richelle Flanagan, Registered Dietitian & WPC Alumni Ambassador

On this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast, Richelle Flanagan, Founder of My Moves Matter, a Registered Dietitian from Ireland and WPC 2023 Ambassador joins host WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, for a candid conversation on Richelle's Parkinson diagnosis, living with YOPD, Pregnancy and Parkinson's, Women's Parkinson's Project and advocacy work and the transformative experience she had attending The World Parkinson Congress. 

Episode 21: Professor Sarkis K. Mazmanian, Microbiologist and WPC 2026 Speaker

Professor Sarkis Mazmanian joins the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast with hosts WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, and guest host, WPC 2026 Science Ambassador Dr. Roberta Marongiu. 
Professor Sarkis Mazmanian is an American medical microbiologist who has served as a professor at the California Institute of Technology since 2006. He is currently the Luis & Nelly Soux Professor of Microbiology in the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering.
Professor Mazmanian will be speaking at a Pre-Congress Course on Advances in Research, Science and Treatment at WPC 2026 focusing on Gut and Immunity in Parkinson's disease: What we know so far from animal models. He'll also be hosting a Roundtable. Can gut-mediated therapeu- tics dampen the neuroinflammatory response in pre-clinical animal models?
On this episode he speaks about his research and shares his past experiences attending The World Parkinson Congress.