Ep 61 Black Hole Fashioned: Stephen Hawking, The Theory of Everything & Understanding ALS

In this episode, we revisit The Theory of Everything in light of the recent passing of Eric Dane from ALS — a loss that underscores how urgent and devastating this disease remains. We explore the film’s portrayal of Stephen Hawking — his love story with Jane Wilde, his groundbreaking contributions to black hole theory, and his extraordinary survival more than 50 years after diagnosis. We also reflect on other public figures connected to ALS, including Lou Gehrig, and revisit the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge that raised over $115 million for research and permanently changed global awareness of the disease. Then we break down ALS itself — what it is, how it affects motor neurons, symptoms, diagnosis, current treatments, and where research is headed. This episode blends film, medicine, and cultural impact to honor those we’ve lost, spotlight those who have lived with the disease, and better understand one of the most devastating neurodegenerative conditions. 🔗 Sources Film & Public Figures The Theory of Everything (2014 film) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Theory_of_Everything_(2014_film) Stephen Hawking – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking Lou Gehrig – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Gehrig Eric Dane – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Dane Famous People Diagnosed with ALS – USA Today – https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/life/wellness/2024/10/21/famous-people-diagnosed-with-als/75784075007/ Ice Bucket Challenge ALS Association – Ice Bucket Challenge – https://www.als.org/ibc Ice Bucket Challenge Overview – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Bucket_Challenge Medical & Scientific References Feldman EL, et al. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The Lancet. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01272-7 Goutman SA, et al. Recent Advances in ALS Diagnosis and Prognosis. Lancet Neurology. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00465-8 Brown RH, Al-Chalabi A. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. NEJM. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1603471 Ryan M, et al. Lifetime Risk and Heritability of ALS. JAMA Neurology. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.2044 Lynch K. Optimizing Pharmacologic Treatment for ALS. AJMC. 2023. https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2023.89389 Johnson SA, et al. Pharmacotherapy for ALS. Drugs. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-022-01769-1 Jiang J, et al. Emerging ALS Drug Developments. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1054006 Cocktail Inspiration National Cocktail Day Recipes – https://viemagazine.com/article/national-cocktail-day-recipes/ Episodes every Monday ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.