Ever since he went public with the diagnosis that he had Parkinson’s disease, actor Michael J. Fox has been the face of the movement to find a cure for the devastating medical condition. Fox has been out in public as much as possible, speaking, acting, writing, getting the word out. He is hoping to educate the public and raise awareness about the disease and money for research into a cure.
Now, his Foundation recently announced that they would be renewing their informational podcast as part of that effort. The Parkinson’s Podcast is billed as a “monthly conversation hosted by Larry Gifford and designed to help people with Parkinson’s disease.” The podcast is also being promoted as an opportunity to help people “stay informed on the latest topics related to research and care” for people with the disease.
Like Fox, Gifford was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and he has a vested interest both in helping people understand and in trying to encourage and fund research for a cure. Gifford is also a member of an advisory council made up of people living with Parkinson’s who work together to advise the MJF Foundation’s programming strategy.
The goal of the podcast is to create and continue an ongoing conversation that puts Parkinson’s science and treatment into context, speak to issues of legislation, help people “make the most of medical care,” and help them stay active while combating the isolation that comes with Parkinson’s, which has been amplified due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Holly Teichholtz, chief marketing officer for the MJF Foundation, said they’re excited to have Larry Gifford on board, “We’ve been fans of Larry’s podcast since it launched, and the opportunity to bring his accessible, conversational style to our audience was one we couldn’t afford to pass up… We hope people and families living with PD will tune in to learn more about the progress in Parkinson’s drug development and all the ways our Foundation can help them become active in the nationwide Parkinson’s community…”
Podcasting, once considered a fringe form of media, has exploded in recent years. If there’s a topic, chances are someone is hosting a podcast about it. And, as more people are choosing to get their information via these long-form conversations, the medium is likely to grow in popularity. For the MJF Foundation, a podcast is a good way to stay in contact and to create or cultivate conversations in its community.
And, by bringing in a relatable and experienced podcaster like Gifford, the Foundation is setting itself up for success. The key, now, will be in getting the word out to influencers who can amplify their message and brand to their target market. If they do that well, this podcast will have the opportunity to do a lot of good, giving hope and good information to people struggling with a terrible disease.