Mark In The Park Podcast

S2, E9 - Guest Amy Chrest talking Depression - 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 we have my friend, Parkinson’s Advocate and Speech-Language Pathologist Amy Chrest on to talk about the lived experience of depression with Parkinson’s Disease. Amy’s Bio- Amy Chrest is a medical Speech-Language Pathologist who has spent her life’s career helping others how to find their words and voice as well as providing assessments and interventions  for dysphagia (swallowing problems).  At the age of 48, Amy was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease herself, and is now experiencing this disease not only from the lense of a clinician, but also as a patient.  Amy immediately decided to use her unique experiences to become an advocate to break the stigmas of Parkinson’s disease and of mental health needs.  In addition to working in an inpatient rehab hospital as an SLP, Amy is a Research Advocate with the Parkinson’s Foundation and a policy advocate with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Parkinson’s Foundation.  Amy was invited to the first ever Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Social Media Summit for Influencers and Advocates and is dedicated to her ongoing advocacy for the advancement of research and breaking stigmas around Parkinson’s disease and mental health.  Amy Chrest - @Achrest on TikTok ; @AmyStrongAF on Instagram *     *     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *     *     *    *     *    * 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] or my LinkedIN page www.linkedin.com/in/markmilow [http://www.linkedin.com/in/markmilow] 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, E8 - Guest panel- WPC Recap and thoughts - 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 we have a guest panel to talk about the recent World Parkinson Congress. What went well?  What could be done better next time?  We also share our favorite moments as well as the funniest memories!  So grab a beverage, sit back, and enjoy! Panelists: Ruby Rendon - @rruby26 on TikTok ; @rubi_rubi26 on Instagram Darryn Wright - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryn-wright-5a02253b/] , @PunkRockParkinsons on TikTok ; @Punk_Rock_PD on Instagram Jennifer Crowder - @ShakyBaker on TikTok ; ShakyCarver on Instagram Tracy McBee - @SnarkyMommy65 on TikTok ; @SnarkyParkyMommy on Instagram Adrian Mireles - @AdrianPDWarrior on TikTok  *     *     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *     *     *    *     *    * 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] or my LinkedIn page www.linkedin.com/in/markmilow [http://www.linkedin.com/in/markmilow] 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, 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