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ALS -To the moon and back

ALS -To the moon and back

Written by: Lisa Wright and Portia Turbo
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About this listen

Welcome to To the Moon and Back. I’m Lisa Wright, and with me is Portia Turbo — iconic Sydney drag queen, trivia queen, perfume oracle, and a bestie of almost 15 years. We met at one of her infamous trivia nights and have spent years wandering art galleries, laughing ourselves silly, and navigating life’s unexpected twists together.
In this first episode, we talk honestly about friendship, joy, and my recent diagnosis of ALS — and what it means to face something big with humour, love, and the people who hold you up.

© 2026 ALS -To the moon and back
Social Sciences
Episodes
  • ALS - To The Moon And Back Episode 6
    Jan 27 2026

    New episode of ALS to the Moon and Back 🎧

    This one starts exactly how most of our chats do — with absolutely no plan — and then somehow lands in some pretty honest territory.

    Portia and I talk about easing back into movement, why water feels so good right now, the weird emotional hangover that can come with New Year, and what happens when you stop brushing things off and actually let yourself feel them.

    There’s laughter, swearing, a bit of reflection, and the discovery that smashing a few plates can be surprisingly good for the soul.

    If you like real conversations that wander, wobble, and still manage to say something useful — this one’s for you.

    🎧 Listen now
    (NSFW language, as always)

    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back.
    If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it.
    You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between.
    Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • ALS - To The Moon And Back Episode 5
    Jan 14 2026

    In this episode of ALS to the Moon and Back, Lisa and Portia ease into the post-Christmas slowdown with warmth, humour, and the kind of conversation that only happens between people who truly care for each other.

    The discussion then turns to the “provider wall” Lisa encountered while trying to access Edaravone treatment close to home. Lisa shares what happened, why she was blocked, and how navigating treatment can become unexpectedly complex — especially outside major cities.

    She talks through the steps that helped her move forward, the relief of finally having Community Health support in place, and what it means to feel properly cared for. Along the way, there’s laughter, reflection, and a reminder that love and support are not finite resources.

    Honest, human, and hopeful — with a final thought that leads neatly into next week’s episode.

    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back.
    If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it.
    You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between.
    Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • ALS - To The Moon and Back - Episode 4
    Dec 28 2025

    ALS to the Moon and Back — Podcast Intro

    Recording’s in progress… and before we get into anything remotely sensible, Portia Turbo is over here singing “We wish you a Merry Christmas” and casually wishing everyone a “happy new gonorrhea”, which feels… on brand.

    I’m Lisa Wright — I live out at Mount Murray Farm in the Southern Highlands, I’ve got dogs that refuse to let anyone have a serious conversation uninterrupted, and I’ve recently found myself living in a world I never planned to be in: ALS.

    This podcast is us — me and Portia — having the conversations you don’t always get to hear. The ones that bounce from art and travel stories (Starry Night, Kandinsky, the Guggenheim, snow falling over Central Park… honestly, goosebumps) to the big stuff: grief, rage, bodies, systems, and what it’s like to suddenly have your life shaped by timelines you didn’t ask for.

    In this episode, we eventually stop waffling (no promises) and get into edavarone — or “a daravone”, depending on who’s reading the label — the infusion treatment I’m doing now. It’s a high-dose antioxidant, and the timing matters: 10 infusions in a 14-day window, then time off, then you do it again. It’s a bit of a logistical circus — early mornings, energy management, and the reality that ALS doesn’t make you “tired” in the normal way… it just makes resting feel very seductive.

    We also go wandering into the “juju” side of things — what trauma does to a body, what happens when you swallow your anger for decades, and how the nervous system flips into “rest and digest” when you finally learn how to properly drop into stillness. There’s a bit of dark humour (because otherwise… how?) and a bit of tenderness, and the occasional dog cameo.

    So if you’re here for real talk, big laughs in inappropriate places, and the honest mess of figuring out how to live well inside something hard — welcome.

    This is ALS to the Moon and Back.
    And if you’re enjoying it (and you’re not a one-star mongrel), please chuck us a five-star review. 💛

    Support the show

    Thank you for listening to ALS - To the Moon and Back.
    If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who might need it.
    You can follow, subscribe, and stay connected as we continue exploring life, friendship, ALS, treatments, hope, and all the messy, meaningful bits in between.
    Take care of yourselves — and each other — and we’ll see you next episode.

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
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