The first guest on our podcast is Rory Cellan-Jones. Rory is a British journalist and former BBC News technology correspondent. He worked for the BBC for 40 years, and left in August 2021. He is also an author of many books, and since leaving the BBC has a newsletter which is very popular, and also runs a podcast called Movers and Shakers, which is about life with Parkinson’s.

During our conversation we talk to Rory about travel, both when growing up and then as an adult, and now in his late 60s. Not only has he enjoyed travel, but he also lived and worked in different parts of the world. He shares his favourite places with us.

Not surprisingly, when considering he was a technology correspondent, we talk about technology, but with a specific focus on inclusivity. Rory shares his thoughts on the latest technologies to aid people with disabilities, and ageing. He talks about how having information on a phone or on a screen that you can talk to is incredibly useful – especially when it means you don’t have to write things down. He also talks about instant translation, and how that can be helpful for people who are losing the power of their voice.

We also talk about the Parky Charter, which Rory’s podcast and several leading Parkinson organisations have called on the government to take action to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s. It’s about anybody with a disability to be able to gain access to entries and exits everywhere they go.

We also talk about the frustrations of even gaining access to diagnosis at the present time in the NHS.

On a positive note, Rory shares information about several great new ways that technology is being used and developed to help people with Parkinson's live better lives.

We even talk about the use of AI.

Rory sees technology helping in two main ways. One, to help diagnose Parkinson’s more quickly and easily, and two, developing different sorts of wearables that can measure symptoms and chart the rate of progress.

Perhaps his most important point is that many of us will end up with some kind of disability at some stage – just through age – so why not make the world a more inclusive place? 

Dr Carol Sargent enjoyed a lengthy career in pharmaceutical science as both a scientist and project manager for international giants such as AstraZeneca and Merck, researching the physical outcomes of chronic diseases and working at an international level at sites in the UK, France, Sweden and the US. This period of her career included five years as a consultant for large drug companies looking at business opportunities that could best support disease intervention.

With over 30 years of experience as a General Practitioner and with Postgraduate Diplomas in Law, and Sport and Exercise Medicine, Dr Tom Adler is passionate about improving the health and well-being of our ageing population, and those with chronic disease and disabilities. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Peak Medtek Ltd, he led a small team developing a falls prevention device Bide which aims to reduce the risk of nighttime falls in the frail and elderly by using voice cues. Dr Tom was also honoured to be selected as one of the five entrepreneurs on the 2019 RCGP Innovators Mentorship Programme.