Welcome to This is Parkinson’s: A New Kind of Support. For Every Step of the Journey.

This is Parkinson’s was born from my personal journey when I was diagnosed in 2014. I realized there was a profound need for a space that truly resonates with those living with this illness—a space created by and for us. The first digital platform of its kind.

What You’ll Find Here

  • Real Stories: This isn’t just a clinical resource or a list of symptoms. It’s a heartfelt collection of narratives from real people, shared through my lens as both a journalist and someone living with Parkinson’s.
  • Connection and Comfort: Here, you will discover stories that touch our hearts—tales that teach, comfort, and remind us that we are never alone on this journey.
  • Expert Insights: Alongside these personal stories, you will find valuable insights from experts and practical tools to help navigate daily life with Parkinson’s.
  • Podcast: Lisa leads thoughtful, revealing conversations with people living with Parkinson’s, caregivers, loved ones, and experts, because no two Parkinson’s journeys are the same.
This is Parkinson’s on Good Morning America! Lisa Volenec Shares Her Story with Michael Strahan

This is Parkinson’s on Good Morning America! Lisa Volenec Shares Her Story with Michael Strahan

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Embracing Your Truth: Makeup, Resilience, and Parkinson’s | Guest: Molly Stern

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Embracing Your Truth: Makeup, Resilience, and Parkinson’s | Guest: Molly Stern

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Reaching New Heights With a Dopamine Pump | Guest: Jen Zupon

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Reaching New Heights With a Dopamine Pump | Guest: Jen Zupon

Lisa Volenec shares insights on This is Parkinson’s podcast with Arizona Horizon host Ted Simons on Arizona PBS

Lisa Volenec shares insights on This is Parkinson’s podcast with Arizona Horizon host Ted Simons on Arizona PBS

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Choosing Joy Over Fear | Guest: Donna Parkhurst

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Choosing Joy Over Fear | Guest: Donna Parkhurst

Tell Me Something Good at the 2026 World Parkinson Congress

Tell Me Something Good at the 2026 World Parkinson Congress

Allen Institute Brain Health accelerator to transform our understanding of brain disorders and develop new treatments

Allen Institute Brain Health accelerator to transform our understanding of brain disorders and develop new treatments

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – The Chemicals Around Us | Guest: Dr. Ray Dorsey

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – The Chemicals Around Us | Guest: Dr. Ray Dorsey

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Finding help, then finding hope. | Guest: Allison Stieb

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Finding help, then finding hope. | Guest: Allison Stieb

Box4Bucks 2026: Fighting Back with Lisa Volenec 🥊

Box4Bucks 2026: Fighting Back with Lisa Volenec 🥊

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – The Original Besties | Guest: Dawn Blankenship

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – The Original Besties | Guest: Dawn Blankenship

PPMI: The Study that’s Changing Everything

PPMI: The Study that’s Changing Everything

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – From Caregiver to Activist | Guest: Dr. George Ackerman

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – From Caregiver to Activist | Guest: Dr. George Ackerman

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – A Caregivers Guide | Guest: Angie Allison

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – A Caregivers Guide | Guest: Angie Allison

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month: Lisa Volenec live on Scripps News

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month: Lisa Volenec live on Scripps News

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Finding connection in the darkness | Guest: Tim Lockard

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Finding connection in the darkness | Guest: Tim Lockard

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – The Invisible Weight of a PD Diagnosis | Guest: Pat Voelker

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – The Invisible Weight of a PD Diagnosis | Guest: Pat Voelker

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Fast Friends | Guest: Sheryl Lowenhar

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Fast Friends | Guest: Sheryl Lowenhar

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – The 20-Year Itch: Why I’m Finally Getting DBS | Guest: Jim Goodfriend

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – The 20-Year Itch: Why I’m Finally Getting DBS | Guest: Jim Goodfriend

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Inherited Strength: The Truth About Multi-Generational Parkinson’s | Guests: Lisa and Sammy Cope

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – Inherited Strength: The Truth About Multi-Generational Parkinson’s | Guests: Lisa and Sammy Cope

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – I Have Parkinson’s. Now What? (The First Episode) | Guests: Bob Sullivan, Kris Volenec

This Is Parkinson’s Podcast – I Have Parkinson’s. Now What? (The First Episode) | Guests: Bob Sullivan, Kris Volenec

Meet Our Founder – Lisa Volenec

Meet Our Founder – Lisa Volenec

Fighting Back: How Boxing Helps Beat Parkinson’s

Fighting Back: How Boxing Helps Beat Parkinson’s

Lisa Cope’s Story

Lisa Cope’s Story

Lisa Volenec with Stevie Nicks

Lisa Volenec with Stevie Nicks

Pat Voelker’s Story

Pat Voelker’s Story

It Matters to Lisa… Lisa Volenec’s Story

It Matters to Lisa… Lisa Volenec’s Story

Our goal is to foster a compassionate and supportive community where we can walk alongside each other through the ups and downs of living with Parkinson’s—especially during those 360+ days we spend away from our doctors.

Because this is real. And we’re in it together.

Lisa Volenec's Signiture

LISA VOLENEC
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

Our Mission

Our mission is to break stigma and build empathy through authentic storytelling that reveals the humanity of life with Parkinson’s. Founded and led by a journalist living with Parkinson’s themself, we bring real experiences to light to build connection, understanding, and a community of support.

What You’ll Discover Here

Inspiring Stories

Real, raw, and hopeful stories from people living with Parkinson’s—shared to connect, uplift, and inspire.

Share Your Story

This is your space to be heard—real stories, told your way, to comfort, strengthen, and give hope.

This is Parkinson’s Newsletter

We’d love to keep you informed and connect you with resources that may help.

Why This Matters

Whether you’re living with Parkinson’s, caring for someone who is, or working on the frontlines of treatment and research—you belong here.

This is a space to feel seen, to learn from others walking a similar path, and even to share your own journey. Because your story matters—and it could be the lifeline someone else is searching for.

This is Parkinson’s. It’s personal. It’s powerful. And together, we’re stronger.

It Matters to Lisa…

Watch as Lisa shares her journey with Parkinson’s—from the moment of diagnosis to what daily life looks like now. Lisa opens up about the power of storytelling, the importance of connection, and her mission to create a stronger, more supportive Parkinson’s community through open communication and shared experience.

Our Founders

Lisa Volenec
Bob Sullivan

Lisa Volenec and Bob Sullivan bring over thirty years of collaboration in television news, specials and projects. Lisa worked as an on-air reporter and anchor and Bob as a senior news and station manager. Over the subsequent years, they have worked together in the same newsrooms and collaborated on numerous projects and initiatives.

Their focus on using their storytelling skills and experience has come together with the This is Parkinson’s initiative. Together they are committed to telling the stories of those with the disease, offering support by building patient communities and working with those equally committed to finding a cure.

Lisa was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2014, and every day since has been a mix of challenge, strength, and resilience. She continues to juggle a demanding career, the joys and chaos of family life, and the support of close friends—all while facing the ever-changing nature of the disease. Sharing her story has become a powerful outlet, and listening to others reminds her that no one walks this path alone.

This is support. This is connection. This is Parkinson’s.