YOPN’s Living Well Starts Here

Jump in the time machine with cohosts Mel, Esther, and Chris to revisit a past conversation from 2024 when Chris and Mel were both preparing for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery. Learn about their mindsets and quality-of-life going into the procedure, then next month, come back to hear their DBS impressions almost 2 years later!
 
~~~ HOSTS ~~~Melissa Livingston | @missmliv
Esther Labib-Kiyarash | @shakinginmyboots1
Chris Sutphin | @cesutphin
with support from hosting organization, Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance~~~ LEARN MORE ~~~
READ EARLY ONSET PARKINSON'S DBS STORIES
“It’s Worth It”: Tiffany’s Deep Brain Stimulation Journey | PMD Alliance Blog
Insights from DBS | PMD Alliance Blog
"It Was Life-Changing" - Roger's DBS Story | PMD Alliance Blog
RECOMMENDED DBS RESOURCES
Monthly DBS Corner Zoom Meeting for Q&A with Peers & Specialists | Parkinson's Orange County Group
Deep Brain Stimulation and Parkinson’s From Decision-Making to Daily Life with DBS | Comprehensive Guide from the Michael J. Fox Foundation
JOIN YOPN | PMD Alliance's Free Membership Program for People with YOPD & Care Partners
Members can join the monthly community gathering held live on Zoom every 4th Tuesday/month, and you'll likely see our co-hosts there! 
GET IN-PERSON SUPPORT | PMD Alliance's Directory for Groups, Providers, & Events
Don't forget to follow, subscribe, and share! Because the conversation continues in the comments on Podbean, across social media, and in YOPN's Monthly Community Gatherings. Tell us what you think!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the authors/producers/guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of YOPN or PMD Alliance.

Tune in for a frank discussion on the financial and bureaucratic hurdles you may have to overcome while living with Young Onset Parkinson's. Co-hosts Esther, Mel, and Chris open up about the juggling they've done, the hard choices they've had to make, and the guilt that they manage.
 
~~~ HOSTS ~~~Melissa Livingston | @missmliv
Esther Labib-Kiyarash | @shakinginmyboots1
Chris Sutphin | @cesutphin
with support from hosting organization, Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance~~~ LEARN MORE ~~~
 
FIND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE | PMD Alliance's Quick-start Guide to Assistance Programs
Healthwell Foundation is a great medication cost assistance resource that came up in discussion!
JOIN YOPN | PMD Alliance's Free Membership Program for People with YOPD & Care Partners
Members can join the monthly community gathering held live on Zoom every 4th Tuesday/month, and you'll likely see our co-hosts there! 
MORE ON PD COST | What Does Parkinson's Actually Cost You? by Beatrice Zatorska, Founder and CEO of PD Buddy App
GET IN-PERSON SUPPORT | PMD Alliance's Directory for Groups, Providers, & Events
Don't forget to follow, subscribe, and share! Because the conversation continues in the comments on Podbean, across social media, and in YOPN's Monthly Community Gatherings. Tell us what you think!
 

In this special mini-episode, Mel and Chris talk Parkinson's travel and the importance of gathering with community members in anticipation of the upcoming World Parkinson's Congress in Phoenix, AZ.
~~~ HOSTS ~~~Melissa Livingston | @missmliv
Chris Sutphin | @cesutphin
with support from hosting organization, Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance
~~~ LEARN MORE ~~~
JOIN YOPN | PMD Alliance's Free Membership Program for People with YOPD
GET IN-PERSON SUPPORT | PMD Alliance's Directory for Groups, Providers, & Events
Don't forget to follow, subscribe, and share! Because the conversation continues in the comments on Podbean, across social media, and in YOPN's Monthly Community Gatherings. Tell us what you think!
 

 "We need to start moving away from the idea that there will be 'a cure.' There will be many cures, and all cures are not going to come in an equal way..." In this deep-diving episode, we sit down with Alberto Espay, MD to dig into what's really stalling the research community, how bad actors take advantage of the placebo effect, and what people with Parkinson's can do to push for change.
~~~ HOSTS ~~~Melissa Livingston | @missmlivEsther Labib-Kiyarash | @shakinginmyboots1Chris Sutphin | @cesutphin
with support from hosting organization, Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance
~~~ GUEST ~~~Alberto Espay, MDProfessor and Endowed Chair of the James J. and Joan A. Gardner Center for Parkinson’s Disease at the University of CincinnatiExplore his work >
~~~ LEARN MORE ~~~READ | The Science Behind Parkinson's from Cure Parkinson's UK
WATCH | Parkinson's Research YouTube Playlist from PMD Alliance
JOIN YOPN | PMD Alliance's Free Membership Program for People with YOPDDon't forget to follow, subscribe, and share! Because the conversation continues in the comments on Podbean, across social media, and in YOPN's Monthly Community Gatherings. Tell us what you think!

"If somebody has random OFF time, it's my failure. I'm failing as a physician..." In this validation-packed episode, we sit down with movement disorder specialist and researcher Rodolfo Savica, MD, PhD to get his perspectives on YOPD and the problems with the current care approach many were taught.
Our guest this episode: Rodolfo Savica, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic
 
Young Onset Parkinson’s Network: https://yopnetwork.org/

With Valentine's Day coming up, we get into sex, intimacy, connection, and what it all looks like when you're living with PD. This episode is raw and deeply real, and it's packed with context that actually helps. If you've been wondering whether you're alone in this, you're not.

Join us as we explore alternative therapies for Parkinson's disease and share our experiences researching and trying various approaches and also fads. It's time to debunk the junk and separate fact from fiction.

Ray Dorsey and Michael S. Okun join the podcast for an in-depth conversation about their new book, "The Parkinson's Plan: A New Path to Prevention and Treatment." They share groundbreaking new research on Parkinson's disease and outline steps individuals and policymakers can make in advancing prevention, treatment, and ultimately, a cure.

In this episode, Simon Allard from Amneal Pharmaceuticals joins the YOPN podcast team to share his journey from neuroscience research to his role as a medical science liaison—and to give listeners a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how Parkinson’s drugs are developed, tested, and refined in real life.
Simon unpacks the science behind preclinical research, the phases of clinical trials, and the differences between extended-release Levodopa formulations. He also explains how real-world feedback from patients and clinicians continues to shape dosing, safety, and access.
Together with the hosts, Simon explores gaps in trial representation, the promise of wearable technology, and why open communication between clinicians, patients, and pharma matters. The episode highlights the vital role of patient advocacy, participation in research, and how the combination of effective symptom management and regular exercise can help people with YOPD live well today—while science pushes toward tomorrow’s disease-modifying therapies.

In this episode, Simon Allard from Amneal Pharmaceuticals joins the YOPN podcast team to share his journey from neuroscience research to his role as a medical science liaison—and to give listeners a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how Parkinson’s drugs are developed, tested, and refined in real life.
Simon unpacks the science behind preclinical research, the phases of clinical trials, and the differences between extended-release Levodopa formulations. He also explains how real-world feedback from patients and clinicians continues to shape dosing, safety, and access.
Together with the hosts, Simon explores gaps in trial representation, the promise of wearable technology, and why open communication between clinicians, patients, and pharma matters. The episode highlights the vital role of patient advocacy, participation in research, and how the combination of effective symptom management and regular exercise can help people with YOPD live well today—while science pushes toward tomorrow’s disease-modifying therapies.