Conversations with Jeremy Moody

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Moody.

Hi Jeremy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
“Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease.” Those words ended my life as I knew it in 20107. I could no longer play music, or tour in support of my band’s second album. The next year was extreme anger and then depression. Navigating the disease and single life, I had quite a few crazy stories and a lot of people encouraged me to tell them. To be the “Parkinson’s Guy.” Years of teaching Buddhism and courses abut death and meaning, I finally found away to tell my story in my way. Not to be “inspiring” or “depressing.” Just honestly and with a few jokes here and there.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh Parkinson’s has been great! I recommend everyone get it! That’s obviously a joke. It hasn’t been easy, but it hasn’t been as hard as it will eventually be. People come and go, but that’s on them; their insecurities. But I get it. It’s scary. It’s scary to go through this, and it’s scary to watch people go through it. But I can’t think too much about the future in that way. As Michael J Fox told me a few years ago, “One day at a time.” I have now. Tomorrow will be a new struggle, and a new story.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Right now I’m working on a solo stage show about my Parkinson’s story, “Them’s the Shakes.”. I joked about it, but everyone told me it’s a brilliant idea. So I’ve been doing some storytelling around town, and some stand-up to see if people will actually laugh at Parkinson’s jokes. I wrote a pilot that’s inspired by my story; a former musician with Parkinson’s and the relationship with his best friend and his young niece. I’ve received a lot of great feedback, but we’ll see. There are a lot of great scripts and ideas in this town. Which is really awesome and drives me. We’re pretty lucky to be here around the most talented and driven people in the world!

As a recovering academic who taught and researched cults and conspiracy theories, I may one day do something with that. Another great thing about LA is that there are so many “interesting” new religious movements here.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My best friend Ryan. I wouldn’t be alive without him! My seven year old niece, Adelaide. We’ve been through a lot together, but that’s in the show so I don’t want to give it away. She’s my reason for doing all of this. She has the burden of watching me decline and eventually take care of me. These projects are love letters to them. A screenwriter mentor of mine is Paul Guyot who gave me the worst news ever: that I was a good writer! Recently I linked up with another experienced screenwriter, Audrey Wauchope, who has been great in helping me navigate this. And another comedian Bob “Papa Robbie” Siegal and his wife Marilyn, who also has Parkinson’s. We have been doing some Parkinson’s fundraisers together and they’re becoming like family to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Cultofmoody
• Instagram: cultofmoody
• Twitter: cultofmoody
• Youtube: cultofmoody

Image Credits
Andrew Levy