{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Parkinson's: An Athlete's Journey","title":"How a Birthday Challenge Became a $43M Mission for Parkinson’s | Patrick Morrissey and Brendan Cusick","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3732,"description":"Brendan Cusick wanted to do something big for his 50th birthday.\nThat idea led him to ocean rowing, a four-man team, and eventually a 2,800-mile row from Monterey to Kauai. Patrick Morrissey came into the picture as Brendan’s friend, a fellow endurance-minded athlete, and someone recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s who initially thought he might help as a spokesperson. A couple months later, he was on the team.\nEric and Todd talk with Patrick and Brendan about how the team came together, what the row asked of them physically and mentally, and how the mission took on a life beyond the boat.\nThey get into seasickness, sleep deprivation, medication, teamwork, and the growing sense that the crossing was no longer just about finishing in Hawaii. It had become something much larger, with families, supporters, and the Parkinson’s community invested in every mile.\nWhat You’ll HearHow Brendan’s birthday challenge turned into a Pacific crossingHow Patrick went from possible spokesperson to full team memberWhat the row demanded physically and mentally once they were out thereHow the team handled sleep deprivation, stress, and the daily rhythm of the boatHow the mission grew into something bigger than the four men rowingHow support from family, followers, and the Parkinson’s community became part of the effort\nKey Takeaways\n➡️ The row became bigger than the original plan.\nWhat started as a bold challenge between friends grew into a major fundraising effort for Parkinson’s research.\n➡️ Teamwork carried the mission.\nThe crossing depended on trust, honesty, and knowing when one person needed the others to step in.\n➡️ Endurance is not only physical.\nA huge part of this episode is what sleep loss, stress, and uncertainty do to the mind over time.\n➡️ Community changed the experience.\nThe people following along from home gave the team something bigger to pull for.\n➡️ Parkinson’s should not shrink the picture of what is possible.\nPatrick’s story pushed back on the idea that a...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/KcQe6JhSUVuU6NFEniUC3ohupqfa4g-tH5UDQ9bHGtw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hYTMz/NWUzMmE2MjU0MTNj/NjAyZGNhZmFjMzY2/NmE3YS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}