Former Sky Sports presenter shares tips on living well with Parkinson’s at Birmingham’s Vox
Former Sky Sports presenter Dave Clark and his podcast co-host Kuhan Pushparatnam will be among the headline speakers at this year’s Par-Con conference, taking place at The Vox, Birmingham, on Friday, October 24th - Saturday, October 25th.
The duo – who host the popular podcast 2 Parkies in a Pod – will open the event on Friday with an uplifting session titled Rise and Shine: A Day in the Life of a Parkie, sharing honest insights, practical tips and humour drawn from their own experiences of living with Parkinson’s.
Between them, Dave and Kuhan have lived with the condition for nearly three decades. Both were diagnosed comparatively young and now use their platform to raise awareness and offer hope to others.
“Parkinson’s changes everything – from getting out of bed to tying your shoes,” said Dave Clark, who presented darts on Sky Sports for more than 20 years. “But life doesn’t stop. We’ll be sharing the small hacks that make a big difference – from choosing the right socks to learning to laugh when things go wrong.”
Kuhan, a former management consultant who underwent pioneering deep-brain stimulation surgery, added: “Exercise, community and connection are vital. You can live well with Parkinson’s, but you can’t do it alone. Dave and I met on social media over a shared love of sport and a pint – that friendship changed both our lives.”
Two Parkies in a Pod has now reached listeners in more than 120 countries, offering candid, relatable conversations about life with Parkinson’s. The pair hope that by speaking at Par-Con, they can inspire others to stay active, connected and positive.
“Get up, dress up, show up – and never give up,” said Clark. “That’s the message we want to share in Birmingham.”
The pair will also meet veteran TV producer Angela Rippon, an advocate of the power of music and dance for wellbeing.
2 Two Parkies in a Pod is available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, YouTube and other podcasting platforms.