In this episode co-hosts, WPC 2026 Ambassador Edgar Valdmanis and WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, have a delightful conversation about the impact of the World Parkinson Congress with WPC President, Roger Barker, BA, MBBS, PhD, MRCP, FMedSci who is the Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Honorary Consultant in Neurology at the University of Cambridge.

This podcast series is made possible with support from BlueRock Therapeutics.

Episode 1: An Introduction to Hear, Here, Parkinson’s! podcast with Edgar Valdmanis and WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard.

This podcast series is made possible with support from BlueRock Therapeutics.

On Episode 4, Larry Gifford & Tim Hague Co-Founders of PD Avengers join the Podcast to talk about their advocacy work with PD Avengers and the lasting impact The World Parkinson Congress has had on their lives. 

Researcher, Leonidas Stefanis, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece, was our first speaker to kick off the WPC 2026 Research Spotlight Series this week, talking about Genetic synucleinopathies and Parkinson’s. He joins the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast to talk about his role as Chair of the WPC 2026 Program Committee, among other things. Listen now!

This podcast series is made possible with support from BlueRock Therapeutics.

In this episode we have the opportunity to speak with Chirine Katribe, PhD, from France Parkinson who is also a WPC 2026 Science Ambassador and shares about her own experience attending the WPC 2023 in Barcelona, her own research on Parkinson's, and how Parkinson France continues to create opportunities for their researchers to attend The World Parkinson Congress. 

On today's podcast we are joined by Denise and Bernard Coley who talk about Advocacy & CarePartners during this extra episode for Parkinson's Awareness Month.    

Sara Riggare, MSc, PhD, served as an Ambassador and as faculty for the third World Parkinson Congress in Montreal, Canada and the fourth World Parkinson Congress in Portland, Oregon and Bracelona, Spain.She is also an advisor to the conference Stanford Medicine X and a member of the British Medical Journal’s Patient Panel. She is an actively engaged patient with a vast network across the community and has her own blog www.riggare.se.

On this episode Podcast hosts, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, Edgar Valdmanis, and WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, interview special guest Dr. Michael Okun, a neurologist, neuroscientist, author and Director at The University of Florida Fixel Institute, and National Medical Advisor at the Parkinson's Foundation, as well as WPC 2023 Scientific Program Co-Chair.

Terry Ellis PhD, PT (USA) & Victor McConvey RN (Australia)

WPC 2026 Comprehensive Care Committee Program Co-chairs

Podcast Hosts: WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassadors Edgar Valdmanis (Norway) & Guest Host, Margie Zimmerman (USA). 

In this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast, host Edgar Valdmanis is joined by special guest co-host WPC 2026 Science Ambassador Dr. Roberta Marongiu as they interview Podcast guest WPC Program Co-Chair, Malú G Tansey, a Professor of Neurology and the James A. Caplin MD, Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease at Indiana University School of Medicine and Director of Neuroimmunology Research Group & Executive Associate Director of Education at the Stark Neuroscience Research Institute.

Professor Per Borghammer, MD, PhD, DMSc joins the podcast this week with host WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador Edgar Valdmanis. Dr. Per Borghammer presented at the 5th and 6th World Parkinson Congresses. He is currently a senior consultant and Professor in the Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark.

In this episode Hear Here Parkinson's podcast host, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, Edgar Valdmanis is joined by guest host, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, Monique Bosman as they interview Professor Bas Bloem, who is a Professor of Neurology at Radboud University Medical Center in The Netherlands and who was the WPC 2013 Scientific Co-Chair.

In this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast, hosts WPC 2026 Ambassador Edgar Valdmanis and WPC Executive Director Eli Pollard take some time to speak with the WPC Alumni Ambassadors and founding members of the cycling to WPC group, Pedal to Phoenix. They speak with Alison Anderson (UK), Rune Vethe (Norway) and Geoff Constable (Australia). 

Professor Tilo Kunath from the University of Edinburgh and a former presenter at the World Parkinson Congress, appears on the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast. He shares insights on stem cell research and reflects on the significant impact that the World Parkinson Congresses have had, both for him personally and for the Edinburgh research community and beyond.

On this episode of the Hear, Here Podcast, hosts, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador Edgar Valdmanis and WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, have a wonderful conversation with Parkinson Advocate, Omotola Thomas, MS who is the Founder of Parkinson’s Africa, a WPC Alumni Ambassador, and sits on the WPC Board of Directors. 

In this episode, podcast hosts welcome WPC Buddies Program Coordinators, Michelle Garratt and Sree Sripathy, to discuss the WPC Buddies Program. Topics include:

• What the program entails

• Who is eligible to apply

• The lasting impact it has had on delegates who attended The World Parkinson Congress

In this episode, hosts Edgar Valdmanis, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, and Eli Pollard, WPC Executive Director, engage in a conversation with WPC 2026 Ambassador Jagdeep Ajula (UK) and WPC Awardee Kabugo Hannington (Uganda).

• Hannington received the Robin A. Elliott Award for Outstanding Community Service at the 6th World Parkinson Congress for his exceptional efforts in raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease and fostering community in Uganda.

• Jagdeep shares how transformative WPC 2023 was for him and the valuable connections he made during the event.

• He also discusses his journey to Uganda, where he met Hannington, and how they work together to enhance the quality of life for Ugandans with Parkinson's disease through exercise and boxing.

On this episode of the Hear, Here! Parkinson's Podcast, former WPC President Dr. Jon Stoessl joins hosts Eli Pollard, the WPC Executive Director, and guest co-host Julia Obergasteiger, a WPC 2026 Science Ambassador. Together, they engage in an insightful discussion about his contributions to the Parkinson's community and his experiences at the World Parkinson Congresses, including his time as WPC President.

Dr. A. Jon Stoessl is Professor and immediate past Head (2009-2023) of Neurology at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He was previously Director of the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre and Parkinson’s Foundation Centre of Excellence (2001-2014). He was Co-Director (2014-2019), then Director (2019) of UBC’s Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. He previously held a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Parkinson’s Disease. He is Editor-in-Chief of Movement Disorders, has served on numerous other editorial boards including Lancet Neurology and Annals of Neurology, previously chaired the Scientific Advisory Boards of Parkinson’s Canada and the Parkinson’s Foundation, is Past-President of the World Parkinson Coalition. He was Chair of the Local Organizing Committee and Co-Chair of the Congress Scientific Program Committee for the 2017 MDS Vancouver Congress.

Dr. Stoessl uses positron emission tomography to study chemical changes in the brain with the objective of gaining a better understanding of the causes and complications of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and its treatment, as well as how PD can be used as a model to better understand dopamine functions in the brain. He has published more than 300 papers and book chapters, and has been cited more than 31,000 times in the scientific literature with an h-index of 79 (Google Scholar).

Professor Stoessl is a Member of the Order of Canada and was recognized by the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Naomi Estolas, WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador, along with her daughter Ruby Estolas, join the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast with Host WPC Executive Director, Eli Pollard, and Guest Host, WPC 2026 Ambassador, Margie Zimmerman. They discuss Ruby's viewpoint as a child of someone living with Parkinson's disease, how the WPC experience helped to inspire Naomi's advocacy and creativity in the Parkinson's space. 

Dr. Ray Dorsey is the David M. Levy, Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester and joins the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast to discuss how he is working to identify and eliminate the root causes of Parkinson's disease. He is a co-author of Ending Parkinson's Disease - A Prescription for Action (2020) and co-author of the new book The Parkinson's Plan: A New Path to Prevention and Treatment (2025).

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Steven Iseman of the WPC Pedal to Phoenix – Team Route 66 joins the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast to share the story behind his incredible upcoming cycling journey to the 7th World Parkinson Congress, riding from Chicago to Phoenix. He also reflects on his previous adventure cycling from the UK to Barcelona for WPC 2023 and opens up about how embracing a positive mindset continues to shape his experience living with Parkinson’s.

On this episode of the Hear Here Parkinson’s Podcast, host and WPC Executive Director Eli Pollard speaks with George Ackerman, PhD, JD — author, advocate, lawyer, and law enforcement professional. George shares his journey as a caregiver for his mother with Parkinson’s and how that experience inspired his advocacy within the Parkinson’s community. He also discusses his work connecting Parkinson’s awareness with law enforcement to help create safer spaces for people living with Parkinson’s, as well as his books on Parkinson’s and their inclusion in the Book Nook at the World Parkinson Congress.

On this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson’s Podcast, we’re joined by Richard Smeyne, PhD — Professor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Thomas Jefferson University.

Dr. Smeyne dives into his research on the powerful role of exercise in Parkinson’s, and shares insights ahead of his upcoming Plenary session at the 7th World Parkinson Congress.

Daniel M. Corcos, PhD, Professor at Northwestern University, joins the Hear, Here Parkinson’s Podcast to discuss his upcoming plenary talk at the 7th World Parkinson Congress: Is Exercise Neuroprotective in Parkinson’s Disease? Evidence from Clinical Trials.

His research focuses on exercise and Parkinson’s disease, including clinical trials showing that resistance and high-intensity endurance exercise improve motor and cognitive outcomes and may slow disease progression.

On this episode of the Hear, Here Parkinson's Podcast, we welcome Naomi Casiro, Registered Physiotherapist, Certified PWR! Therapist, and founder of NeuroFit BC. Naomi joins us to share her expertise in neurological rehabilitation and her evolving approach to improving care for people living with Parkinson’s.

A key focus of the conversation is falls—one of the most complex and impactful challenges in Parkinson’s care. Naomi offers a preview of her upcoming Special Workshop at the World Parkinson Congress, “Failing to Fall: What We Are Missing in Falls Treatment and How It Can Change Your Practice for the Better.”

This session will highlight the practical application of falls-related data and introduce a more comprehensive, two-pronged approach to treatment. Attendees will have the opportunity to observe and practice early falls training strategies, and learn how to incorporate functional movement and falls training into their own clinical programs.

Listen in for a thoughtful and forward-looking discussion that challenges traditional approaches and empowers practitioners to rethink how they support people with Parkinson’s.