Ordinary Life: A Podcast About Parkinson's.

Kitty and Mike talk about the lack of real people and real places to help with day to day life administration. Just how to pay your bills, check your government ID or submit documents when you cannot use a smartphone or PC?

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This episode was first broadcast on 15/9/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air

Mike and Kitty discuss Mike's change in attitude to life. His perception of how he should behave and how we're judged by our appearence, not our true selves.

This episode was first broadcast on 8/9/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

Emma talks about the things that annoy her with Kitty Doyle.

This episode was first broadcast on 1/9/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

We discuss the many and varied way people attempt to cash in on those with chronic conditions.

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This episode was first broadcast on 24/8/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

Emma is back from her (ordeal?) surgery at Auckland City Hospital. She talks with Kitty about the experience, her feelings about life with an implanted device, and the lack of professional help and support.

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This episode was first broadcast on 18/8/2026 at 2pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

What is it really like undergoing surgery on your brain? Emma tells all to Kitty, and answers the questions you are too scared to ask yourself.

"Keep up with us via the links below : Instagram / Facebook / Website This episode was first broadcast on 29/7/2026 at 2pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

It's the eve of Emma's trip to Auckland for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery. Mike and Kitty talk about their hopes, worry about the best way to help, and ponder the realities of coping with the initial after-effects of major surgery.

NOTE: Vetted by Emma herself before publication.

"Keep up with us via the links below : Instagram / Facebook/ Website This episode was first broadcast on 5/5/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

Our lives are thrown into dissary as Emma receives the call with a date for her DBS Surgery. It is exactly One week today. We record our feelings about finally facing surgery.

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This episode was first broadcast on 14/07/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air.

Kitty gets her disability parking permit, and uses it! We talk about having an invisible disability, and how it seems to matter that we look like we are disabled to access support.

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This episode was first broadcast on 7/7/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

Kitty has a bit of an off day, so we indulge ourselves in a pity party. Sometimes we just want a day off from the weight of Parkinson's!

Because truth is stranger than fiction Kitty's husband Mike has his own chronic condition, as a survivor of an out of hospital sudden cardiac arrest. We all share the same frustration with well meaning but uninformed advice.

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This episode was first broadcast on 23/6/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air.

Kitty talks honestly with Emma about her grief, resentment and fears about Parkinson's.

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This episode was first broadcast on 16/6/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air.

Deep brain stimulation: the reality. Emma talks to Kitty about being approved for deep brain stimulation (DBS), her fears about undergoing brain surgery, and her hopes for life with the device.

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This episode was first broadcast on 2/6/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air.

Are you sick and tired (literally) of waiting for a cure for Parkinson's? We are too. We're also frustrated at the New Zealand health system's inability to comprehend our situation of living with a incurable neuro-degenerative illness, for which we will be on the same pills for life.

There is an explosion of new weight loss drugs, and some areas of medicine seem to move very fast — while Parkinson’s still feels stuck in a cycle of symptom management, “maybe in ten years,” and waiting. We try to appreciate scientific progress, but can't pretend it’s enough.

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The impact of dealing with Parkinson's over many years - the trials and tribulations of progressing with Parkinson's - it wears on us from time to time. What to do? Is have good a cry and carry on really the answer....?

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This episode was first broadcast on 26/5/2026 at 2.00pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

Some of us find that Parkinson's slows us down. It's irritating and annoying, but the sooner you learn to forgive yourself for not being super-speedy the easier it gets.

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This episode was first broadcast on 19/5/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air.

Everyone knows Michael J Fox has a disease. What is it? Oh yeah - that thing old people get, Parkinson's.

We discuss Michael's film 'Still' and our thoughts watching it as people with Parkinson's ourselves.

First broadcast on 3rd March 2025 on Coast Access Radio in NZ.

Are Carers of People With Parkinson's Undervalued? Kitty's friend told her they'd been advised by their partner with Parkinson's that they had no right to complain because it wasn't happening to them. Yet surely carers of Parkinson’s patients tread a tricky tightrope. Torn between sympathy and irritation, grieving the lost plans for their future happiness, are they not deserving of a friendly ear too?

This episode was first broadcast on 12/5/2026 at 2.oopm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On...

It's time to talk mobility aids. Why should we use them, when should we not? Are they good for us, or do they hold, us back mentally and physically? If you have Parkinson’s, how much should we rely on medical assistance instead of exercising?

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This episode was first broadcast on 5/5/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air.

Emma talks about her return to Auckland hospital to undergo dopamine testing to identify her suitability for Deep Brain Stimulation to help overcome her Parkinson’s symptoms.

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This episode was first broadcast on 5/5/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air.

It's one thing to sympathise over the very real fears of Parkinson's. It's another to use that fear to scam people with pseudo science and a hefty side order of snake oil. Kitty and Emma talk about the various methods of assistance they've been offered. Grab yourself a plate of kale and discover the as yet undiscovered or lauded cures to all ills.

The very real issue that we enjoy intimacy too! Sex. Not always an easy subject to discuss, but having parkinson's, or any chronic illness doesn't mean you're devoid of wanting close contact with your consenting other.

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This episode was first broadcast on 5/5/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air.

When is honesty not the best policy? We all have our secret worries, fears and desire, but should we put voice to them in public? Opinions are valid, but if they could cause real harm, should they be shared to all? Emma and Kitty discuss an email they read from a respected Parkinson’s group. What are the implications it could have on people with Parkinson's?

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First broadcast on 7th April 2026 at 2pm NZ time, by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM...

Kitty does not read much research. Emma devours it. Is there a happy medium? What is it Kitty is afraid of? Is Emma happier for reading the articles she does?

First broadcast on Coast Access Radio 31/3/2026

Johnny has just undergone Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery to combat his severe dykinesia and symptoms caused by Parkinson’s Disease.

Emma wants to know all, Kitty wonders what it really felt like. How confronting is the process of being awake during brain surgery? How quickly do things change? And how much difference is it already making?

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First broadcast on 24/3/26 2.pm by Coast Access Radio, a Community Access Media Alliance station. Supported by NZ on Air.

What's the Point? It's all a moot argument, isn't it? Parkinson's will get you in the end, so why push back at all? We discuss how we deal with feeling apathetic.

What do you do when people say, "have you tried...?" (insert product name) We talk about how to deal with the endless stream of unsolicited advice about Parkinson’s Disease. How it makes us feel, and why people have the urge to do it at all. Are you a neurology consultant? Bah.

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This episode was first broadcast on 10/3/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

We talk to Johnny Boyle of Auckland about life with Parkinson's, and his hopes for improvement as he prepares for Deep Brain Stimulation, major brain surgery to try to reduce his symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

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This episode was first broadcast on 3/3/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

There's a huge range of different symptoms caused by Parkinsons, and Kitty and Emma talk about how they experience some and not others at different times. They explain how they try and roll with it. Adapt and keep moving people!

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This episode was first broadcast on 24/2/2026 at pm by Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air."

We're feeling the fear and doing it anyway in this episode! Kitty and Emma talk about how scary it is to be disabled in public, and the various ways we're both showing up in our own lives.

Having a plan and knowing what's right and wrong is great, but who comes up with these great ideas that actually don't help at all? Kitty and Mike talk about examples of some things that are supposed to help keep us safe, but real life doesn't always follow the plan that's been made by others.

Parkinson's is bad enough for those with the disease, but what about those around us? What impact does this have on our children, does it shape their view, affect their day to day lives? We talk to Kitty's daughter Amelia about her thoughts on living with those affected by changing health.

Emma talks about her appointment at Auckland Hospital for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), an invasive yet effective treatment for the symptoms of Parkinson's. How does she feel, and how does one cope with the prospect of such major surgery?

Contains graphic descriptions of treatments.

Kitty and Mike discuss what they have learned over the year.

Kitty and Mike talk about their 2025 and hopes for 2026. Emma will be back in 2026!

Discussing the mental mind games we play with ourselves, and how other people perceive the cause of our issues.

We talk about the reintroduction of prescription charges and how its increasing the costs of chronic illness on families.

We get riled up about the grim stories about Parkinson's that charities use to attract donations, and how difficult hearing them can be for people trying to live positively with Parkinson's. Are we just being difficult? Or are these contradictory things both true - that it is hard living with Parkinson's AND possible to live positively with it?

Is it a good idea to fess up that you have PD to your boss or prospective employer? What happens if you do and they discriminate against you?

Is honesty the best policy when it comes to opening up to others about your diagnosis? And can you deal with the whispers of sympathy?