Claim OwnershipThe Forgetting: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's
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The Forgetting is a podcast that talks about and demystifies Alzheimer's disease. The twice-monthly show is co-hosted by two well-respected Alzheimer’s experts: David Shenk and Greg O’Brien.
O’Brien was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2009, at age 59. The podcast highlights the friendship Shenk and O’Brien share, while also documenting O’Brien’s experience with the disease as its symptoms become more pronounced. The earliest conversations date from 2015. Subsequent episodes of the podcast follow O'Brien's journey with the disease to the present day.
The conversations are geared toward people with the disease, as well as caregivers, friends and loved ones. In addition to discussing O'Brien's day-to-day life with Alzheimer’s and the tactics he uses to cope, the podcast also features guest interviews.
David Shenk is author of The Forgetting: Alzheimer’s, Portrait of an Epidemic.
Greg O’Brien is author of On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s.
The podcast is produced at WCAI in Woods Hole.
Executive Producer: Sean Corcoran
Producer: Steve Junker
O’Brien was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2009, at age 59. The podcast highlights the friendship Shenk and O’Brien share, while also documenting O’Brien’s experience with the disease as its symptoms become more pronounced. The earliest conversations date from 2015. Subsequent episodes of the podcast follow O'Brien's journey with the disease to the present day.
The conversations are geared toward people with the disease, as well as caregivers, friends and loved ones. In addition to discussing O'Brien's day-to-day life with Alzheimer’s and the tactics he uses to cope, the podcast also features guest interviews.
David Shenk is author of The Forgetting: Alzheimer’s, Portrait of an Epidemic.
Greg O’Brien is author of On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s.
The podcast is produced at WCAI in Woods Hole.
Executive Producer: Sean Corcoran
Producer: Steve Junker
28 Episodes
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Greg talks about some of his health issues, not because he wants a “pity party,” but so people will know just how much damage dementia does to the body as well as the brain. David and Greg talk about something that makes Greg happy – movies. Greg notes that talking about things that interest a person with dementia is a good strategy to get them to interact. Also, Executive Producer Sean Corcoran makes an announcement about the podcast’s future.
David asks Greg to record the podcast without notes or prompts, but this creates tremendous anxiety for Greg. He says that these records are becoming more difficult, as he has less “cognitive reserve” to draw upon. That also is one of the reasons Greg is isolating from friends; he often doesn’t know what to say and becomes filled with anxiety. Also, Greg has another problem on an airplane as it become more difficult to control his rage.
Lauren Miller Rogen is an actor and screenwriter who, along with her husband the comedic actor Seth Rogen, is active in the Alzheimer’s community, fundraising and dedicating their philanthropic efforts to fighting Alzheimer’s disease and supporting others who do the same. Lauren speaks candidly with Greg and David about caring for her mother, who died in 2020 from early-onset Alzheimer’s. Greg and Lauren share stories about their moms and how they coped with the dementia.
A doctor responds to Greg’s sense humor by teasing that he may need to be institutionalized. David and Greg talk about their writing process. The co-hosts talk about their moms, both of whom died after developing dementia. Greg’s mother taught him how to live with Alzheimer’s, Greg says. Like his Mom, Greg says he sometimes hallucinates, seeing people who aren’t there. And he remembers what his mom would say when she saw things.
1Greg and David host musician and actress Mandy Moore, who reveals herself to be a Greg O’Brien superfan, telling Greg, “I love this podcast.” Moore has listened to every episode, she says, as she portrays her role Rebecca Pearson on the NBC show, “This is Us.” The character develops dementia as she ages from her mid-20s to mid-to-late-80s, during the six seasons of the show. Moore also is a strong voice in the Alzheimer’s community, working with the organization Us Against Alzheimer’s to share information about how women are impacted by dementia what people can do to protect their brains.
Greg gives his thoughts on what his family tells him – he is a different person than he was years ago. His personality has changed, he says, and he is isolating himself more and more. Greg recently lost his sister to cancer, and she left him with an inspiring message. Greg’s loss of filter is evident during an interaction with nurses at the hospital.
The Forgetting podcast: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s
Greg and David swing from serious to jocular as they check in on each other during the pandemic. The two friends talk about people’s need for certainty in their lives. Dementia creates a lot of uncertainty, and the pandemic and the country’s politics have made it worse. Greg tells a story about trying to make his doctor laugh. And David gives some practical advice about nutrition and sleep. Greg also tells a touching story about a friend who fought Alzheimer’s-dementia, without even knowing it.
This episode was recorded November 24, 2020.
The Forgetting podcast: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s
David Shenk and Greg O’Brien talk about the challenges that come with dealing with Greg’s dementia during the pandemic. Movies – including the classic Jaws – have helped Greg during some tough times, but he still grows weary from the challenges of daily life while dealing with the disease. Greg gets some advice from a clergy member who also has dementia. And, it seems Greg still owes David one hundred bucks.
This episode was recorded Sept. 24, 2020
The Forgetting: Inside The Mind of Alzheimer’s
Greg O’Brien and David Shenk take to Zoom to record their latest podcast installment because the pandemic prevents them from getting together. Greg talks about the challenges that come with social distancing and quarantining, making every day feel like Groundhog Day. David reveals he almost wrote a book about the movie Groundhog Day. Meanwhile, Greg has a reveal of his own regarding a well-known actress and musician who will make a special appearance on a future installment.
This episode was recorded Sept. 3, 2020
The Forgetting: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s
The world is getting a sense of the isolation, frustration and fear that Alzheimer patients and the people who care for them live with every day. David and Greg discuss how everyone’s lives have changed during this pandemic. Their hope is that people can develop a better understanding and empathy for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia from this shared experience.
This episode was recorded March 27, 2020 and was previously released as a podcast Special Edition.
The Forgetting: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s
Greg and David welcome special guest, actor David Hyde Pierce, who has personal experience with the disease, which touched both his father and his grandfather. Greg and David share stories about being young and trying to understand what’s happening to family members they love. Greg makes the important point – we’re talking about “living with Alzheimers.” And David discusses the comfort that comes with knowing you’re not alone. It’s a touching episode, with many beautiful takeaways.
This episode was recorded Jan. 7, 2020.
The Forgetting: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s, Season 2, Episode 3
Greg and David are both feeling melancholy as they talk about Greg’s problems keeping his balance. To add a bit of humor, Greg tells the story of falling off a treadmill and feeling like George Jetson. After one fall, a “guardian angel” comes to Greg’s aide, and she remarkably knows just what’s troubling him. Also in this episode, David asks some hard questions about Greg’s daily glasses of wine. And David knows what Greg is talking about when he says that sometimes he just wants to “go home.”
This episode was recorded Dec. 11, 2019.
The Forgetting podcast: Season 2, Episode 2
Greg and David welcome their special guest, Lisa Genova, the author of “Still Alice” and a Harvard-trained neuroscientist. Greg talks about welcoming a new grandchild to the family and how that has touched his life. Lisa tells a funny but revealing story about how she once met Greg for coffee and Greg arrived with his clothes soaking wet. And, as always, David and Greg express their love and admiration for each other.
This episode was recorded October 9, 2019
The Forgetting podcast: Season 2, Episode 1
Greg and David are back with season 2 of their conversations around Alzheimer’s disease. In this episode, Greg talks about how he often wants to be alone – more so than ever before. David asks Greg his thoughts on Joe Biden and accusations that Biden is battling dementia. And, a bare-chested Greg hits the wrong button on his cell phone, prompting an embarrassing moment with a bishop. But Greg, and the bishop, have a sense of humor about the situation.
This episode was recorded Sept. 17, 2019
The world is getting a sense of the isolation, frustration and fear that Alzheimer patients and the people who care for them live with every day. David and Greg discuss how everyone’s lives have changed during this pandemic in this Special Edition of The Forgetting. Their hope is that people can develop a better understanding and empathy for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia from this shared experience.
Producer’s Note: Please watch for Season 2 of The Forgetting in the next several weeks, and follow us: @ForgettingThe
The Forgetting: Episode 13 In the finale of “The Forgetting Podcast: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s” Season 1, we learn that there will be a season 2, slated for release in the fall. We also hear from co-hosts Greg O’Brien and David Shenk about the response they’ve received since the podcast was released. Greg talks about his hero, Larry David, who sent Greg a gift. An 85-year-old woman asks Greg a question about his Jeep and probably regrets it. David talks about the recent loss of his own
The Forgetting podcast: Episode 12 Special guest George Vrandenburg talks about his work pushing the federal government to spend more on research. George tells talks about the loss of his wife Trish to Alzheimer’s and how the disease impacted their family. Greg recalls an event in Los Angeles that reinvigorated him in the fight against the disease. Other topics: people need to talk about Alzheimer’s and dementia in order to demystify the disease; people need to look out for caregivers, who could
The Forgetting podcast: Episode 11 Greg reveals that he blacked out twice while going to a business meeting, but he did not tell anyone. David tries to surprise Greg with two mystery guests. The surprise fails. Greg’s two sons, Conner and Brendan O’Brien, join the podcast for an honest discussion about their dad and dementia’s impact on their lives. Greg and his family discuss a difficult conversation they recently had about the family’s financial future. This episode was recorded on July 27,
The Forgetting podcast: Episode 10 Greg and David are joined by Gloria Clayborne, the wife and caregiver to jazz icon Junior Mance, who has dementia. Greg talks about going into a rage and stepping out of a cab in Manhattan. Gloria discusses some of the strategies she uses to deal with her husband’s hallucinations and incontinence. David, Greg and Gloria talk about sex, and how some Alzheimer’s patients still have strong sex drives and a desire for intimacy. This episode was recorded on May 24,
The Forgetting podcast: Episode 9 Greg talks about the death of Trish Vradenburg, who, along with her husband George, helped create US Against Alzheimer’s – one of the most effective advocacy organizations in the Alzheimer’s world. Greg says his mind is telling him to do things he wouldn’t normally do, which makes him worry. David talks about the plan for how long the podcast will go on so that people can get the blunt truth about the disease. This episode was recorded April 27, 2017.
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This has been so awesome. Will there be more released episodes? I've seen no new releases for awhile
This doesn't seem to be a complete episode. It begins mid-sentence with what seems to be an interview with Lisa Genova, continues for roughly 9 1/2 minutes then repeats 3 more times. would have loved to have heard the whole thing.