Summary: On today’s episode we welcome Larry Gifford, host of the When Life Gives You Parkinson’s podcast. Larry, who has been in the radio and podcasting sphere for many years now, was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He found that he wanted to find information and solace in the form of podcasts, a source of information for him already. When this search proved unfruitful, he decided to create the podcast that he needed himself and this is how When Life Gives You Parkinson’s was born. In our discussion we look at the genesis of the show and some of Larry’s personal experience around symptoms and difficulties with his diagnosis. Larry shares some of his ideas for staying positive and upbeat despite the nature of the disease, before we move onto Larry’s thoughts on the podcasting format and his advice for prospective creators. We discuss the efficacy of audio as a means to communicate and some simple ways to get your message further afield, and into the ears of the right listeners. For a great chat with a great Causecaster, be sure to tune in! Key Topics: • The events in Larry’s life that led to him launching his podcast on Parkinson’s. (03:14) • The early symptoms of Parkinson’s that Larry did not recognize. (05:06) • Remaining positive in the face of difficult news. (06:37) • Why Larry looked to podcasts for information and comfort immediately. (07:49) • Some of the differences between radios and podcasts. (08:38) • Involving family members and loved ones in the process of documentation. (09:48) • The influence of recording and aiming for an unfiltered conversation. (10:32) • Some of the feedback and reactions Larry has received for the podcast. (12:40) • The strengths of podcasting in communicating a cause.(14:36) • Raising awareness for the podcast and the issue. (15:37) • Larry’s own approach to the medium and his advice to others. (16:58) • Growing support through people in similar situations. (20:05) • Aligning with established causes and societies to gain traction. (21:13) • Simple tactics for bolstering a struggling podcast. (22.58) And much more! Support Parkinson Canada See the show notes and a transcript at http://www.causepods.org/podcast/larry-gifford Thanks for Listening! Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, Android, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And feel free to drop us a line at mathew@causepods.org. Stay up-to-date on Causepods by followng Mathew Passy on social media at Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! For help, resources, and community support, please join the Causecasters’ Facebook Group if you are already producing podcasts for a cause or are thinking about launching one. And if you would like to be a guest on Causecasts, please fill out this form.
