Mark In The Park Podcast

S2, E7 - Guest - Eli Pollard, Executive Director of the WPC - Mark In The Park Podcast

Welcome to Mark In The Park — a podcast about life, not just Parkinson’s. Hosted by Mark Milow, aka MarkInThePark21, this is a space where honesty meets optimism, and everyday moments matter just as much as the big ones. This week’s guest is Eli Pollard, Executive Director of the World Parkinson Conference (WPC), and host of the Hear,Here, Parkinson's! Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/54KP18Ye4MJ0JmdMZDxpx2?si=dac0a448688f4f1c]from the World Parkinson Coalition Eli gives us last minute updates and information about this global phenomenon taking place May 24 - 27 here in Phoenix, AZ!    For more information on the World Parkinson’s Congress coming up May 24-27, 2026, here is the website: https://wpc2026.org/ [https://wpc2026.org/]  *     *     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *     *     *    *     *    * Want to know more about Parkinson’s Disease?  You will find great resources at the Parkinson’s Foundation website or by calling their hotline below: 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) www.parkinson.org [http://www.parkinson.org] If you have a question or suggestion for the podcast, or would like me to speak at an event, you can reach me at markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com [markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com] .  You can also check out my website www.markinthepark21.com [http://www.markinthepark21.com]  Thank you for listening!  Please Like, Subscribe and tell a friend if you enjoyed the show!   Music by James Wigley 👏 Special thanks to my BFF Nikki ❤️ And to the one who helped me find light in the darkness, I will always be thankful! #Parkinsons #Tenacity #YOPD #Inspiration #Resilience #Hope #Fun #WPC #DadJoke

S2, E6- Guest - Melissa Livingston - Outspoken advocate and author - Mark In The Park Podcast

Welcome to Mark In The Park — a podcast about life, not just Parkinson’s. Hosted by Mark Milow, aka MarkInThePark21, this is a space where honesty meets optimism, and everyday moments matter just as much as the big ones. This week’s guest is Melissa Livingston.  She is an outspoken advocate and author who speaks passionately about the topics that matter to her.  In this episode we talk about her recent health issues, Parkinson’s disease, her experience with Deep Brain Stimulation surgery (DBS), mental health, the Semi-colon project, humor in the midst of adversity and more!    Melissa’s Bio reads: “Melissa Livingston, better known as Mel or @missmliv-is a writer, blogger, and author of Miles to Go Before I Sleep (2024), She is an empathetic voice in the young onset Parkinson’s community, centering her focus on mental health and the realities of life with Parkinson’s. Through her blog posts and podcast episodes as a PMD Alliance Ambassador and co-host of the Living Well Starts Here podcast, she challenges outdated narratives through raw, real storytelling with her friends, people who have lived it. The OG Creator of the viral hashtag #parkinsonslookslikeme, she’s focused on redefining what this disease actually looks like—out loud and unapologetically with the aid of PMD Alliance, YOPN, and the community at large.” If you’d like more information about the 988 hotline, see their website: https://988lifeline.org/ [https://988lifeline.org/]  To find out more about Project Semicolon, click HERE [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Semicolon] ************************************************* Want to know more about Parkinson’s Disease?  You will find great resources at the Parkinson’s Foundation website or by calling their hotline below: 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) www.parkinson.org [http://www.parkinson.org] If you have a question or suggestion for the podcast, or would like me to speak at an event, you can reach me at markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com [markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com] .  You can also check out my website www.markinthepark21.com [http://www.markinthepark21.com]  Thank you for listening!  Please Like, Subscribe and tell a friend if you enjoyed the show!   Music by James Wigley 👏 Special thanks to my BFF Nikki ❤️ And to the one who helped me find light in the darkness, I will always be thankful! #Parkinsons #Tenacity #YOPD #Inspiration #Resilience #Hope #Fun #WPC #DadJoke

S2, E5 - Guest - Ruby Rendon giving updates on the WPC happening in 3 weeks! - Mark In The Park Podcast

Welcome to Mark In The Park — a podcast about life, not just Parkinson’s. Hosted by Mark Milow, aka MarkInThePark21, this is a space where honesty meets optimism, and everyday moments matter just as much as the big ones. This week’s guest is World Parkinson's Conference (WPC) Insider Ruby Rendon giving us updates on things we need to know for the WPC coming in 3 weeks!  We talk about Biking into Phoenix, An Arizona Diamondbacks game with our WPC Community, A movie screening and much more…   If you would like more information on the Muhammad Ali Parkinson center or to reach Ruby directly you can contact her at ruby.rendon@commonspirit.org [ruby.rendon@commonspirit.org]  For more information on the World Parkinson’s Congress coming up May 24-27, 2026, here is the website: https://wpc2026.org/ [https://wpc2026.org/]  *     *     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *     *     *    *     *    * Want to know more about Parkinson’s Disease?  You will find great resources at the Parkinson’s Foundation website or by calling their hotline below: 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) www.parkinson.org [http://www.parkinson.org] If you have a question or suggestion for the podcast, or would like me to speak at an event, you can reach me at markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com [markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com] .  You can also check out my website www.markinthepark21.com [http://www.markinthepark21.com]  Thank you for listening!  Please Like, Subscribe and tell a friend if you enjoyed the show!   Music by James Wigley 👏 Special thanks to my BFF Nikki ❤️ And to the one who helped me find light in the darkness, I will always be thankful! #Parkinsons #Tenacity #YOPD #Inspiration #Resilience #Hope #Fun #WPC #DadJoke

S2, E4- Guest - Julie Kurek aka The ParkDoc! - Mark In The Park Podcast

Welcome to Mark In The Park — a podcast about life, not just Parkinson’s. Hosted by Mark Milow, aka MarkInThePark21, this is a space where honesty meets optimism, and everyday moments matter just as much as the big ones. This week’s guest is Dr. Julie Kurek.  We talk about Blood Pressure fluctuations with PD, Women with Parkinson’s, Attitude and mindset, Antidepressants and more…   Julie’s Bio reads: Dr. Julie Kurek is a movement disorders specialist who has been practicing at Wellstar/MCG at Augusta University for the past 11 years.  Dr. Kurek is the Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence Medical Director.  She completed her undergrad at Brown University, attended New York Medical College, completed her residency at Columbia New York Presbyterian and her fellowship in Movement Disorders at Cushing Neuroscience Institute.  Her passion is to optimize the quality of life for those living with Parkinson’s disorders by using a holistic approach, addressing not only the motor but also the non-motor symptoms her patients face.  In addition, she offers botulinum toxin injections and Deep Brain Stimulation evaluations and programming.  Her hope is to leave you hopeful.  Dr. Kurek lives with her husband, a DNP, their 2 children Michael age 16 and Ava age 14, and their dog Buffy.  In her spare time, she likes to Peloton and swim whenever possible.  She loves NYT puzzles, and her happy place is by the ocean.  You can find Julie on social media with this handle - TikTok and Insta: @TheParkDoc *     *     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *     *     *    *     *    * Want to know more about Parkinson’s Disease?  You will find great resources at the Parkinson’s Foundation website or by calling their hotline below: 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) www.parkinson.org [http://www.parkinson.org] If you have a question or suggestion for the podcast, or would like me to speak at an event, you can reach me at markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com [markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com] .  You can also check out my website www.markinthepark21.com [http://www.markinthepark21.com]  Thank you for listening!  Please Like, Subscribe and tell a friend if you enjoyed the show!   Music by James Wigley 👏 Special thanks to my BFF Nikki ❤️ And to the one who helped me find light in the darkness, I will always be thankful! #Parkinsons #Tenacity #YOPD #Inspiration #Resilience #Hope #Fun #WPC #DadJoke

S2, E3- Guest - Julie Obreiter talking DBS - Mark In The Park Podcast

Welcome to Mark In The Park — a podcast about life, not just Parkinson’s. Hosted by Mark Milow, aka MarkInThePark21, this is a space where honesty meets optimism, and everyday moments matter just as much as the big ones. This week’s guest is Julie Obreiter.  We talk about her decision to become an advocate, as well as discuss Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery at length.   Julie’s Bio reads: Diagnosed with YOPD 8 years ago at age 44. Julie has dystonia dominant Parkinson’s that includes rigidity as well as bradykinesia. She is part of the 20-25% of PWP who do not have a tremor.  Julie had bilateral DBS surgery in March 2024 and recently had adaptive DBS turned on about 3 months ago. Julie is a mom, wife, and she works remotely full time in the tourism industry. She has a YouTube channel about her experience with DBS ( www.youtube.com/@JuliexYOPD [http://www.youtube.com/@JuliexYOPD] ) and Julie is very active on social media (TikTok and Insta: JuliexYOPD). *     *     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *     *     *    *     *    * Want to know more about Parkinson’s Disease?  You will find great resources at the Parkinson’s Foundation website or by calling their hotline below: 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) www.parkinson.org [http://www.parkinson.org] If you have a question or suggestion for the podcast, or would like me to speak at an event, you can reach me at markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com [markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com] .  You can also check out my website www.markinthepark21.com [http://www.markinthepark21.com]  Thank you for listening!  Please Like, Subscribe and tell a friend if you enjoyed the show!   Music by James Wigley 👏 Special thanks to my BFF Nikki ❤️ And to the one who helped me find light in the darkness, I will always be thankful! #Parkinsons #Tenacity #YOPD #Inspiration #Resilience #Hope #Fun #WPC #DadJoke