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In Two Minds

In Two Minds

By: Justine Pickering and Professor Julie Williams
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This is a podcast that will help you navigate the complexities of dementia. It’s presented by two friends who come at the subject from two very different perspectives.

Professor Julie Williams has spent most of her working life trying to understand Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Meanwhile, Justine Pickering understands the colossal human cost all too well. She lost her mum to a rare form of young-onset dementia before founding a unique respite project for families coping with the emotional toll of the disease.

In Two Minds brings you the highs and lows of the shared experiences of dementia. We’ll hear inspiring special guests and all about current research and future treatments.

Together, we’ll explore the challenges of coping with this disease and how to live well following diagnosis.Justine Pickering and Professor Julie Williams Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science
Episodes
  • In Conversation with Ruth Jones Part 2: Annie’s Legacy

    In Conversation with Ruth Jones Part 2: Annie’s Legacy
    Feb 3 2026
    In part 2 of the conversation with her friend Ruth Jones, Justine speaks with raw honesty about the heartbreak of slowly losing her mum, the realities of caring and the overwhelming guilt that so often follows. She reflects on the moments she wishes she could relive, the memories she clings to, and the pain of a Christmas Eve goodbye.

    Driven by love and necessity, Justine created a respite project that transformed the lives of families living with dementia - a beautiful, dignified space where joy, music, kindness, and humanity come first, and where carers are finally given permission to rest.

    This episode is about more than loss. It’s about making moments matter. It’s about finding light in the darkest places and about the profound impact one woman’s life can have long after she’s gone.

    If you have any questions for Justine and Prof Julie, email us hello@twomindspodcast.co.uk.

    For further help and advice, please visit
    https://www.alzheimers.org.uk
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    31 mins
  • In Conversation with Ruth Jones Part 1: When a Mother Needs Her Daughter

    In Conversation with Ruth Jones Part 1: When a Mother Needs Her Daughter
    Jan 27 2026
    The one and only Ruth Jones joins the podcast for the next two weeks as co-host of In Two Minds. As Julie takes a little break, Justine shares with Ruth the story she never thought she could tell — the story of her mum, Annie, and their family’s journey through young-onset dementia.

    Justine reflects on who Annie was before the diagnosis: a glamorous, funny, fiercely loving woman — a young mum and a devoted grandmother. Together, they explore the slow, bewildering onset of dementia, the thousand small moments that didn’t make sense at the time, and the heartbreak of watching independence, dignity, and language gradually slip away.

    This episode speaks honestly about the realities of caring: the humiliation dementia can bring, the exhaustion of “orchestrated fun,” and the painful question of who normality is really for.

    A tribute to Annie, and to all families living with dementia, this episode is about love in its rawest form — and why better understanding, support, and respite matter so deeply.

    If you have any questions for Justine and Prof Julie, email us hello@twomindspodcast.co.uk.

    For further help and advice, please visit
    https://www.alzheimers.org.uk

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    36 mins
  • Decoding Dementia: Dr. Emma Mead on the Future of Alzheimer’s Therapies

    Decoding Dementia: Dr. Emma Mead on the Future of Alzheimer’s Therapies
    Jan 20 2026
    Dr. Emma Mead is the Chief Scientific Officer at the Oxford Drug Discovery Institute. In this episode, we explore with her the cutting-edge science behind Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

    Dr. Mead takes us through the journey from groundbreaking genetic discoveries to the development of potential therapies, explaining how tiny brain cells called microglia could hold the key to preventing and slowing dementia.

    We dive into the complexities of Alzheimer’s beyond amyloid plaques, the promise of targeting genes like PLCG2, and the innovative approaches to drug discovery—from identifying molecular “hits” in the lab to partnering with pharmaceutical companies for clinical trials. Emma also shares her vision for a future where patients benefit from a toolbox of personalised treatments, early diagnosis, and improved quality of life.

    This episode offers hope, insight, and a human perspective on a disease that affects one in two of us, directly or indirectly. Whether you’re a researcher, carer, or someone interested in the future of neuroscience, this conversation highlights why the next decade could transform dementia care.

    If you have any questions for Justine and Prof Julie. Email us hello@twomindspodcast.co.uk.

    For further help and advice please visit
    https://www.alzheimers.org.uk.



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    29 mins
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