The Forgetting: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

The Forgetting: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s — Health
The Forgetting: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s

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

Latest Episodes:

Standing Naked Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

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

Standing Naked Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

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 Forgetting Special Edition: Dementia in the Age of Coronavirus Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

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: Dementia in the Age of Coronavirus Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

The Forgetting, A Special Edition: Dementia In The Age of Coronavirus Recorded March 27, 2020 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: Season One Finale Jul 05, 2019

Show notes

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

Where’s the Government? Jun 14, 2019

Show notes

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

A Family Diagnosis May 31, 2019

Show notes

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,

Moving Between Two Worlds May 17, 2019

Show notes

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,

Finding New Pathways May 03, 2019

Show notes

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.

Realize What's Important Apr 12, 2019

Show notes

The Forgetting podcast: Episode 8 Greg loses his friend. Greg gets upset with people who do the “drive by.” An encounter of the 3rd kind. Greg tells a joke about Alzheimer’s, reminding us to keep our senses of humor. A discussion of the disease before symptoms. Greg has advice for his friend as he faces dying. This episode was recorded April 13, 2017.

Related Podcasts