“We Wanted Children Not to be Scared” – How One Couple Helped Shape a Kids Podcast to Help Families understand Parkinson’s
When Bill and Michelle heard about an opportunity to help shape a kids podcast with Made By Mortals CIC and Parkinson’s UK, they immediately wanted to get involved.
Like many families living with Parkinson’s, they wanted the children in their lives – including their own great-nephew – to understand the condition without being frightened by it.
Michelle said: “We wanted our great-nephew and other people’s grandchildren to understand what was going on and that they didn’t need to worry. I was intrigued about how we could do this with a podcast!”
Neither had ever made a podcast before. Instead, they joined fellow members of their local Parkinson’s UK support group in Tameside, Greater Manchester, working alongside children, artists and the Made By Mortals team to co-create A Planet Exercise Adventure! – a special four-part episode of the Armchair Adventures podcast series.
Armchair Adventures is Made By Mortals’ award-winning join-in podcast for children, where every adventure begins with real people and real stories. Through a creative co-production process, children, artists, experts and people with lived experience work together to transform real conversations into joyful adventures that help families explore subjects that can otherwise feel difficult to talk about.
Across a series of workshops, Bill and Michelle laughed, shared stories, explored movement, talked about good days and bad days, and opened up about what living with Parkinson’s is really like. Those conversations would go on to inspire the characters, songs and scenes children now hear in A Planet Exercise Adventure!.
Michelle admits she wasn’t quite sure what to expect. “It was not anything we had done before and at the first session I couldn’t get my head around what was happening to start with.
“But the enthusiasm of the rest of the group and the Made By Mortals team helped draw us in and drop our guard. Very quickly it felt like a safe space where we could be ourselves rather than pretend.”
As the weeks went on, the project became about far more than helping create a podcast.
“It allowed me to be me. Rather than being Bill’s carer, I was Michelle.
“Being creative together makes you open up, gets everyone going and makes people smile.
Smiles and laughter take away the blandness of health conditions.”
Listening to the finished Armchair Adventures episodes was an emotional moment.
“It has been one of the best experiences of my life. Seriously.
“Because it allowed me to be me, it made me realise I can be me.
“I learned a lot about Bill, about me and about where our journey is going. I understand more about Bill’s condition and I wish more people had the opportunity to experience the Armchair Adventures co-creation workshops. It is such a lovely environment.”
The finished A Planet Exercise Adventure! episodes follows Chief Adventurer Connie and her Nanna Debs as they journey to Planet Exercise, discovering that movement looks different for everyone, that Parkinson’s affects people in different ways, and that life doesn’t stop because of a diagnosis.
For Michelle, hearing those real experiences reflected back through the story was incredibly powerful.
“What I hope children get from the podcast is that if they have a family member with Parkinson’s, they won’t be scared.
“I think the story absolutely nails what Parkinson’s is. Connie reacts over the top at the start, which feels true, but then she learns that Nanna Debs can still have fun and still wants to dance.
“People don’t need to be sorry. It’s not a death sentence. You can still have a zest for life. Life can get tougher, but underneath all that you’re still the same person. There is sadness in what you lose, but you find other things – and your humour is still in there.”
Andy Smith, Artistic Director at Made By Mortals, said:
“Every Armchair Adventure starts with people, not scripts. Bill, Michelle and everyone involved didn’t simply inspire this series – they helped create it.
“At Made By Mortals we believe the people living a story are the best people to tell it. Armchair Adventures gives children the chance to learn directly from those lived experiences, helping families have conversations that might otherwise feel difficult.
“When people like Bill and Michelle trust us with their stories, our job is to honour them with creativity, care and joy. That’s what this Armchair Adventure is all about.”
Jed Parsons, Physical Activity Delivery Manager at Parkinson’s UK, said:
“It’s been great to partner with Made By Mortals to deliver the new episodes of Armchair Adventures.
“Hearing the impact that the podcasts have made for the participants is truly inspiring and I’m delighted that we have been able to share the positive messages of people living with Parkinson’s to a younger audience.”
“Being active and living well with any long term health condition is all about finding an activity that works and brings enjoyment for you. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who shared their personal stories and experiences to help inspire others
“Finally, I would like to thank everyone involved with the delivery and production of the new Armchair Adventures episodes. Their creativity and passion have made this project a real success and I hope the episodes continue to inspire listeners of all ages.”
The complete A Planet Exercise Adventure! episodes are now available, with the Armchair Adventures: Unpacked companion episode launching on 13 August. Together, the episodes provide a lasting resource to help families, schools and communities understand Parkinson’s through the voices and experiences of people living with the condition.
For more information about Made By Mortals and Armchair Adventures, visit www.madebymortals.org/armchair-adventures.
