Welcome to Mark In The Park — a podcast about life, not just Parkinson’s. Hosted by Mark Milow, aka MarkInThePark21, this is a space where honesty meets optimism, and everyday moments matter just as much as the big ones.
This week’s guest is Annmarie O’Connor, the Irish Examiner fashion editor, bestselling author, speaker, and advocate.
Known for her books The Happy Closet and The Happy Medium, Annmarie spent almost two decades at the forefront of fashion media, championing a mindful, expressive approach to personal style. Her self-styled “wardrobe wellness” philosophy helped people simplify their closets and reconnect with their confidence.
In December 2021, Annmarie was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease—a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, mood, and motivation, among other critical functions. Since then, she has become a powerful voice in the chronic illness space, using storytelling, humour and style to raise awareness and foster hope. Her five-part podcast series Living Your Best Life explores the emotional and practical realities of life with Parkinson’s through candid conversations and lived experience.
In 2023, Annmarie was honoured with the Catalyst Award at Irish Tatler’s Women of the Year and named one of the Irish Examiner’s 100 Women Changing Ireland. Her upcoming memoir Twitch is out now! Order it through this link:
https://annmarieoconnor.me/twitch-my-life-with-parkinsons/
Or to order it directly from Kennys as suggested in the show, here is the link:
https://www.kennys.ie/shop/twitch-annmarie-o-connor-9781804187876
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Want to know more about Parkinson’s Disease, you will find great resources at the Parkinson’s Foundation website or by calling their hotline below:
1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636)
www.parkinson.org
If you have a question or suggestion for the podcast, or would like me to speak at an event, you can reach me at markintheparkpodcast@gmail.com . You can also check out my website www.markinthepark21.com
Thank you for listening! Please Like, Subscribe and tell a friend if you enjoyed the show!
Music by James Wigley 👏
Special thanks to my BFF Nikki ❤️
And to the one who helped me find light in the darkness, I will always be thankful!
#Parkinsons #Tenacity #YOPD #Inspiration #Resilience #Hope #Fun #WPC #DadJoke