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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR, THE MONSOON IS TECHNICALLY UPON US.

WE'LL GET A SUMMER STORM FORECAST.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, PASTOR WARREN STEWART WILL JOIN US IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT HIS DECISION TO RETIRE.

>>> AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT PICKLEBALL AND HOW IT CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THOSE WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE, THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY SIGNALED AT THE U.S. COULD ENTER ISRAEL'S WAR AGAINST IRAN.

THE PRESIDENT CALLED FOR IRAN'S, QUOTE, UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER WHILE SUGGESTING THE POSSIBILITY OF KILLING IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO REFERRED TO ISRAEL'S MILITARY EFFORTS WITH THE WORD WE.

ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY SPOKE TO CNN ABOUT CONCERNS THAT THE U.S. WILL GET INVOLVED.

>> WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS RATHER -- IT'S INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD CAUTION THE IRANIANS SHOULD NOT TRY TO DRAW US INTO THIS.

AND WE WILL, AND WE SHOULD PROTECT OUR PEOPLE ON BASES ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND OUR MILITARY ASSETS.

TED: THAT SAID, SENATOR KELLY ADDS THAT ONE OF IRAN'S NUCLEAR SITES IS SO DEEP INSIDE A MOUNTAIN THAT U.S.-GRADE WEAPONS COULD EFFECTIVELY REACH IT.

>> IF THE UNDERGROUND FACILITIES WITH THE MASSIVE ORDNANCE PENETRATOR, A 5,000 POUND WEAPON.

THE ISRAELIS NOT ONLY DON'T HAVE THE WEAPON, THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DELIVER IT EVEN IF THEY DID HAVE IT.

TED: DEMOCRAT NICK MANSOUR, FORMER CHAIR OF THE FOR PROFIT ARIZONA SCHOOL OF NURSING RUNNING FOR STATE TREASURER.

HE WANTS TO INCREASE THE YIELD OF THE PUBLIC LAND ENDOWMENT TRUST FUND USED TO FUND EDUCATION.

REPUBLICAN ELIJAH NORTON IS THE ONLY OTHER CANDIDATE TO ANNOUNCE FOR TREASURER.

REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT KIMBERLY YEE IS TERM LIMITED OUT, AND RUNNING FOR STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

>>> GOVERNOR HOBBS NOMINATED JOHN CONLEY TO DIRECT MILITARY AND EMERGENCY AFFAIRS, A CHANGE OF COURSE FOR THE GOVERNOR WHO THREATENED TO STOP SENDING NOMINEES FOR CONFIRMATION THAT VET'S NOMINEE IS, QUOTE, A CIRCUS.

SENATOR JAKE HOFFMAN RESPONDED BY CALLING THE GOVERNOR INEXPERIENCED, JUVENILE AND WEAK.

>>> THIS IS THE IMAGE OF A VOLCANO ON MARS, POKING THROUGH THE CLOUDS AT DAWN.

THE FIRST SUCH IMAGE OF A MARTIAN VOLCANO ON THE HORIZON, TAKEN BY THE MARS ORBITER, TWICE AS TALL AS THE HIGHEST VOLCANO ON EARTH AND THE SOUTHERNMOST AND CLOUDIEST IN A LINE OF THREE VOLCANOES ON THE RED PLANET.

>>> WELL, MAY NOT FEEL LIKE IT YET BUT THE MONSOON IS HERE, HERE OFFICIALLY.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THIS GO-AROUND OF SUMMER STORMS?

WE ASK ASU CLIMATOLOGIST RANDY CERVENY.

THAT TIME OF YEAR, THE BRAIN FRIES WHEN WE'RE OUTSIDE, JUNE 15, THE MONSOON CAME.

WHO KNEW?

>> WELL, FOR OLD-TIMERS, YOU REMEMBER THAT WE USED TO WORK WITH DEWPOINT, AND WE HAD TO HAVE THREE DAYS WHERE THE DEWPOINT WAS 55 DEGREES OR HIGHER, THAT TOLD US HOW MUCH MOISTURE WAS IN THE AIR.

THAT GOT TO BE TOO MUCH OF A HASSLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMPREHEND, AND SO WE'VE GONE TO A SET DATE LIKE HURRICANE SEASON NOW.

WE SAY THE MONSOON STARTS ON JUNE 15.

TED: SO YOU DUMBED IT DOWN FOR US, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

>> WELL, WE STIP KEEP TRACK OF THE DEWPOINTS END.

>> S SEPTEMBER 30?

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

TED: THAT'S BECAUSE USUALLY THEY DON'T GO INTO OCTOBER.

>> RIGHT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS WE GET SYSTEMS COMING IN FROM CALIFORNIA, FROM THE WEST, ON THE WEST RELEASE AND LOSE THE SOUTHERLY FLOW WITH THE MONSOON.

TED: LAST YEAR IT WAS GOOD FOR NORTHERN ARIZONA AND SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA BUT NOT SO MUCH FOR THE PHOENIX AREA, AM I GETTING THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

LACK LUSTER TO NORMAL MONSOON.

SOME PLACES GOT NORMAL PRECIP, A LOT OF PLACES DIDN'T.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT GOT GREAT MONSOON RAIN.

TED: IT WAS BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

>> YEAH.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE.

TED: REAL QUICKLY BEFORE WE GET TO MAPS AND FORECAST, THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW ABOUT THE HEAT ASPECT OF THIS.

DOES THAT IMPACT MONSOON STORMS?

>> NOT REALLY.

THE AMOUNT OF HEAT THAT THE CITY PUTS OUT COMPARED TO THE ENERGY THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE MONSOON THUNDERSTORM IS LIKE A CANDLE TO A POWER PLANT.

TED: WHOA.

>> IT'S NOT ENOUGH HEAT TO CAUSE A BIG CHANGE IN THE MONSOON.

>> THE MONSOON COMES UP FROM MEXICO, AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CRAZY 115, 116-DEGREE TEMPERATURES, EVEN HIGHER, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED TO PULL THE MOISTURE UP, CORRECT?

>> WE CAN SEE THE FIRST SIGNS OF THE MONSOON.

TED: WE HAVE THE FIRST GRAPHIC IF WE CAN.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IT BUBBLE UP.

>> WE ARE STARTING TO SEE IT, ALONG THE WEST COAST OF MEXICO.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE CLOUDS NOW, AND AS WE SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE CLOUDS INCREASE AND WORK THEIR WAY FURTHER NORTH AND EVENTUALLY COME INTO THE PHOENIX AREA.

TED: IS IT USUALLY THE WESTERN SIDE OF MEXICO WHERE YOU SEE THE CLOUDS FIRST?

>> YES, THE MOISTURE IS COMING FROM THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA AND THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

TED: WHEN DO YOU THINK WE MIGHT SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING?

>> THE NEXT GRAPHIC.

TED: EIGHT TO 14 DAY FORECAST, THERE YOU GO, DOESN'T LOOK TOO BAD.

>> LATER ON NEXT WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO START TO SEE SOME MONSOON MOISTURE COMING INTO THE SOUTHEAST PART OF ARIZONA, AND THERE'S A CHANCE THAT TUCSON AND PHOENIX COULD ACTUALLY GET A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN.

LIKELIHOOD IS FLAGSTAFF WON'T.

IT TAKES ANOTHER WEEK OR SO BEFORE IT GETS UP THERE.

TED: THAT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE.

>> VERY ENCOURAGING TO SEE.

TED: OUR NEXT GRAPHIC -- BEAT TO YOU THIS ONE.

OUR NEXT GRAPHIC TALKS ABOUT THE OVERALL MONSOON, IF WE CAN GET TO THAT ONE.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

RANDY, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T BORN YESTERDAY HERE.

I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENTIRE SOUTHWEST LOOKS LIKE IT'S ONE THING AND WE'RE ABOVE.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> WELL, THAT'S -- BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT IS A CLASSIC MONSOON IMAGE.

WHAT IT'S SHOWING IS WE'RE GETTING THE MOISTURE COMING UP, SHOT UP THROUGH THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA, AND INTO ARIZONA.

SO THE RAINFALL THAT WE GET OVER ARIZONA DURING THE MONSOON ISN'T RELATED TO ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE LIVING IN OUR OWN LITTLE WORLD DURING THE SUMMERTIME.

TED: LOOKS LIKE A NINE-YEAR-OLD DREW THAT, I WANT ARIZONA TO GET ALL THE WEATHER.

LOOKS LIKE IT COULD GET ALL THE WEATHER, HUH?

>> IT COULD.

WE'RE NOT SHOWING YOU NEW MEXICO THERE.

WHAT WE WOULD SEE IS THE BLUE ABOVE OR GREEN ABOVE NORMAL AREA FOR ARIZONA EXTENDS DOWN INTO MEXICO.

TED: YEAH, YEAH.

OKAY.

SO IT'S NOT JUST -- NOT STOPPING AT THE BORDER.

>> EXACTLY.

OUR NEXT GRAPHIC IS -- THIS IS INTERESTING, DUST STORM RANKING SYSTEM LIKE HURRICANES?

>> EXACTLY.

WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IS GOTTEN ALMOST ALL THE METEOROLOGISTS FROM THE VALLEY, TV, WE'VE GOTTEN PEOPLE AT SRP, PEOPLE AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, WE'VE GOTTEN PEOPLE AT THE MARICOPA COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, AND WE'VE GOTTEN THEM ALTOGETHER AND SAID WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A RANKING SYSTEM FOR DUST STORMS SO WE CAN TELL WHAT ARE THE BAD ONES AND NOT SO BAD ONES.

TED: YES, LOOK AT THAT GRAPHIC AGAIN, PLEASE, ON THE FAR RIGHT SIDE IS THE CATEGORY ONE, THAT'S THE RUN-OF-THE-MILL STANDARD ISSUE, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

ABOUT 60% OF ALL DUST STORMS CLASSIFY OUT AS CATEGORY ONE.

TED: THE FURTHER LEFT YOU GO, THE BIGGER AND THE MORE HABOOBS WE'RE SEEING.

>> EXACTLY.

BY THE TIME WE GET TO A CATEGORY 5, IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, LOOKING OVER ALL THE DUST STORMS THAT OCCURRED IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, TWO RANKED OUT AS CATEGORY5.

ONE WAS DURING THE YARNELL FIRE, DIDN'T MAKE THE NEWS BECAUSE THE YARNELL FIRE THAT KILLED THE FIREFIGHTERS PUSHED EVERYTHING ELSE OFF, AND THE SECOND CATEGORY 5 DUST STORM THAT WE HAD WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WHEN THE ASU FOOTBALL GAME.

TED: I REMEMBER THAT!

>> CANCELED BECAUSE OF A DUST STORM.

THAT WAS A CATEGORY 5.

WE'VE HAD ONLY ONE CATEGORY 6 STORM IN THE LAST 15 YEARS.

TED: WE HAVE A SHOT OF THE CATEGORY 1 STORM, THAT WAS IN 2011?

>> A CATEGORY 6.

TED: CATEGORY 6.

LOOK AT THAT THING.

>> THE INFAMOUS JULY 5, 2011 HABOOB, MADE INTERNATIONAL NEWS WHEN IT OCCURRED.

WE'RE BASING OUR RANKING ON THE CONCENTRATION.

HOW MUCH DUST IS IN THE AIR, AND WE HAVE VERY GOOD MONITORS ACROSS THE VALLEY NETWORK THAT CAN MEASURE THESE THINGS.

THIS THING CAME OUT TO BE JUST INCREDIBLE IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF DUST THAT WAS IN THE AIR FOR THAT STORM.

TED: IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO HEAR, THE DUST STORM WARNING, A CATEGORY 1, DUST STORM WARNING, A CATEGORY 3.

WE'LL NOW KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YEAH.

WE'LL DO THIS AFTER THE FACT, NOT BEFORE.

TED: REALLY?

>> LIKE TORNADOES.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DAY AFTER A STORM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY THIS WAS A CATEGORY 6 DUST STORM OR CATEGORY 5.

WE'RE NOT YET GOING TO BE ABLE TO FORECAST.

TED: OKAY, SO WHEN YOU ARE CLEANING OUT YOUR POOL, YOU WILL FIND OUT A 2 OR 3.

>> EXACTLY.

TED: GREAT INFORMATION, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE SUMMER RAINS, THANK YOU, SIR?

>> THANKS.

.

TED: PASTOR WARREN STEWART SR. IS RETIRING AFTER SERVING NEARLY 50 YEARS AT THE FIRST INSTITUTIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH IN PHOENIX.

PASTOR STEWART BEST KNOWN FOR WORKING TO GET MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY RECOGNIZED AS A STATE-PAID HOLIDAY IN ARIZONA.

WE WELCOME PASTOR WARREN STEWART SR. TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

WE'VE WELCOMED YOU A LOT OF TIMES.

>> GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU.

TED: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE RETIRING AS SENIOR PASTOR, WHY?

>> BECAUSE IT'S TIME.

IT'S TIME TO PASS THE BATON.

I'VE BEEN WORKING AT THE SAME ADDRESS FOR 48 YEARS.

TED: WOW.

>> AND IT'S TIME.

TED: WAS THERE AN AH-HAH MOMENT, SOMETHING THAT SAID, OKAY, IT'S TIME?

>> WELL, MY WIFE AND I WERE ON A MISSION TRIP IN AFRICA IN NOVEMBER OF 1920 -- OF 2023, THE LORD SPOKE TO ME AND SAID IT'S OKAY, YOU HAVE TO PROVE ANYTHING TO ANYONE ELSE?

TIME TO RETIRE.

TED: DID YOU FEEL YOU HAVE TO PROVE SOMETHING TO SOMEONE?

IS THAT PART OF THE PROCESS?

AN INTERESTING THING THAT YOU SAID.

>> YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DONE THE WORK THAT GOD CALLED YOU TO DO.

I CAME HERE IN JULY '77.

GOD HAD SOMETHING IN MIND, I'VE BEEN HERE NEARLY 50 YEARS, AND NO, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE I HAVE TO PROVE TO ANYONE.

TED: YEAH, WELL, YOU PROVED A LOT DURING THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY.

THE WHOLE HULLABALOO THERE.

IN ALL OF YOUR MEMORIES, THE 48 YEARS, IS THAT THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT?

>> WELL, IT STANDS OUT BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO EDUCATE, ENLIGHTEN, INSPIRE THE STATE THAT MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO THIS NATION AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR AS GEORGE WASHINGTON IN THE 18th CENTURY, ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN THE 19th CENTURY.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

SPOKE TO JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FOR ALL.

TED: EXPANDING BEYOND THE PULPIT?

>> SURE, SURE.

BUT LOOK AT JESUS' PULPIT.

HE DIDN'T HAVE A PULPIT.

HIS WORK WAS DONE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO FOR US TO BE INVOLVED, WE WENT AND WORKED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

TED: WHAT TURNED THAT WHOLE DEBATE, THE ARGUMENT, WAS THERE AN AH-HAH MOMENT THERE?

>> WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK IT WAS THE PEOPLE GOT IT AND SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF DR. KING, BUT ALSO THE SUPER BOWL WAS INVOLVED.

TED: YES.

>> AND THE SUPER BOWL WAS THE 1993 SUPER BOWL WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ARIZONA BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A KING HOLIDAY, AND SO PEOPLE GOT ON BOARD BECAUSE THEY WANTED A SUPER BOWL, BUT THAT DIDN'T DRIVE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO PASSED IT BY VOTE OF THE PEOPLE ON NOVEMBER 3, 1992.

IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AT THE RIGHT TIME.

TED: WAS THAT AN EXAMPLE -- I HEARD YOU MENTION THIS BEFORE.

QUOTE IS JESUS AND JUSTICE WORK?

>> I'VE BEEN ABOUT JESUS AND JUSTICE FOR ALL OF MY MINISTRY.

56 YEARS OF BEING CLERGY PERSON BUT 48 YEARS HERE, AND I'VE BEEN ABOUT JESUS AND JUSTICE ALL THAT TIME.

TED: FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY ALL THAT TIME, PART OF IT?

>> YES, SIR.

TED: VOTER ENGAGEMENT, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE.

>> PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE WANT MORE EQUITABLE PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING.

ALL OF THAT.

YES.

TED: WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT YOU, AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND HAD A TREMENDOUS CAREER.

I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING.

>> SURE.

TED: WHAT MAKES A GOOD PASTOR?

>> ONE WHO LOVES THE PEOPLE GOD HAS CALLED HIM OR HER TO OVERSEE HIS SHIP.

YOU GOT TO LOVE THE PEOPLE, LOVE GOD, LOVE YOURSELF, BUT GOT TO LOVE THE PEOPLE.

TED: IS THAT A CHALLENGE FOR SOME CLERGY?

>> IT SHOULDN'T BE.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IS IT A CHALLENGE?

>> IF YOU'RE THERE FOR THE RIGHT REASON, SHOULD NOT BE A CHALLENGE.

TED: YES.

>> YES, SIR.

TED: SPEAKING OF CHALLENGES, WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE, 48 YEARS, ANYTHING?

>> TO BE FRESH, TO BE RELEVANT, TO BE EFFECTIVE OVER GENERATIONS.

I MEAN, I HAVE PASTORED FOR AT LEAST 2 1/2 GENERATIONS.

HOW CAN YOU REMAIN EFFECTIVE FOR THAT LONG.

TED: HAS THE MESSAGE CHANGED OVER THE GENERATIONS, THE MESSAGE WOULD BE -- >> THE MESSAGE REMAINS THE SAME, JESUS AND JUSTICE.

THE METHODS HAVE CHANGED ESPECIALLY WITH TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA, COVID-19, ALL OF THAT CHANGED.

TED: YOUR SUCCESSOR, DO THEY KNOW WHO WILL BE YOUR SUCCESSOR?

>> NO, ONLY GOD KNOWS, WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

WORKING ON THAT.

TED: WHEN GOD MAKES A DECISION, WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE TO HIM, TO THE SUCCESSOR?

>> TO LOVE THE PEOPLE.

TED: THAT REALLY IS A BIGGIE, ISN'T IT?

>> THAT WILL HAVE THE ONLY THING GOD IS CALLING THE PASTOR TO DO.

TO LOVE THE PEOPLE OVER WHICH HE HAS BEEN GIVEN CHARGE OR SHE.

TED: THAT GREATEST COMMANDMENT COMES INTO PLAY.

>> LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF, LOVE THEM WITH MIND, BODY AND SOUL YOU.

>> WILL GIVE A FINAL CELEBRATION, JUNE 29.

>> JUNE 27-29, BIG WEEKEND FOR YOU.

WAS THE FINAL MESSAGE DIFFICULT TO COME UP WITH OR FLOW RIGHT OUT?

>> WELL, GOD HAS GIVEN IT TO ME, BUT IT'S ABOUT, IT'S FROM ACTS APOSTLES CHAPTER ABOUT PAUL, THE APOSTLE PAUL FINISHING HIS WORK, AND I JUST ABOUT FINISHED MINE.

TED: AND YOU LOOK HAPPY.

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE HAPPY WITH THAT DECISION?

>> GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME.

I AM HAPPY.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

>> REST.

R-E-S-T, REST.

TED: WHEN YOU ARE DONE RESTING, WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE?

>> I WANT TO MENTOR, I WANT TO PORE INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES, ABOUT SERVANT LEADERSHIP, WANT TO DO WORK IN AFRICA AND INDIAN.

TED: PASTOR WARREN STEWART SR., YOU HAVE AFFECTED SO MANY LIVES, WHEN YOU ARE RESTING, YOU WILL REST COMFORTABLY KNOWING YOU MADE A BIG IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A WELCOME GUEST AT "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> GOD BLESS YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TED: THANK YOU.

.

TED: A NEW STUDY CONDUCTED IN THE PHOENIX AREA FINDS THAT PICKLEBALL HAS A POSITIVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL IMPACT ON PATIENTS UNDERGOING THERAPY FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE, JOINING US IS JAMIE NESBIT FROM CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY HEALTH CAMPUS IN PHOENIX, AND SUZANNE O'NEAL, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY FROM GLENDALE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: I THINK I'M THE ONLY DUDE IN THE WORLD WHO HAS NOT PLAYED PICKLEBALL YET.

INTERESTING STUDY.

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED ON PICKLEBALL AND PARKINSON'S?

>> SO I ACTUALLY, IT'S A PATIENT STORY THAT GOT US STARTED.

I WORK WITH A PATIENT WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON'S, SHE CAME TO ME AT THE CLINIC FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND SHE WAS ACTUALLY TOLD SHE HAD FIVE YEARS TO LIVE, WHICH WE KNOW THROUGH PHYSICAL THERAPY IS NOT TRUE, EXERCISE IS MEDICINE, THERE'S GREAT MEDICINES OUT THERE.

SO WE STARTED WORKING AND SHE HAD THIS GREAT TRANSFORMATION, AND WHEN SHE WAS DONE WITH P.T., SHE WANTED TO FIND SOMETHING SHE COULD KEEP HER EXERCISE UP AND FOUND PICKLEBALL.

SHE CAME TO ME AND SAID WE NEED TO DO A STUDY ON THIS, AND SUZANNE AND I HAVE BEEN COLLEAGUES FOR A WHILE, I SAID SUZANNE, I NEED YOUR HELP TO DO A STUDY.

THAT WAS IT.

SHE WAS THE DRIVER FOR THE STUDY.

TED: AND THE STUDY LOOKED AT WHAT, MOTOR SKILLS, COORDINATION?

WHAT WERE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING.

SO BASICALLY, WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL SPECIFIC THINGS LIKE DID IT CHANGE THEIR BALANCE OR WALKING OR IMPROVE THEIR COORDINATION OR HAND FUNCTION, BUT WE ALSO INCLUDED INTERVIEWS TO GET JUST MORE IMPACT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

HOW DID IT HELP YOU PERSONALLY?

DID IT HELP YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE?

WHAT DID YOU GET OUT OF IT BASICALLY?

WE FOUND AMAZING INFORMATION OUT OF THE INTERVIEWS.

TED: WHAT INFORMATION DID YOU FIND?

>> MY GOSH, SO MUCH.

NOT ONLY THE THINGS WE EXPECTED.

THEY LOVED THE SOCIAL INTERACTION, THE CAMARADERIE, THEY LOVE THE COMPETITION, AND SO MANY PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY ALMOST FORGOT THEY HAD PARKINSON'S FOR THAT MOMENT WHICH IS MIND BLOWING TO ME, BUT ALSO IMPROVED, THEY FELT IMPROVED COGNITIVE SKILLS, BALANCE, SO THEY LOVED ALL ASPECTS OF IT.

TED: IS PICKLEBALL ANOTHER FORM OF PHYSICAL THERAPY?

>> IT'S A FORM OF EXERCISE, RIGHT?

AND EXERCISE IS MEDICINE FOR PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S, SO IT ALLOWS REACHING, MOVING, CAMARADERIE, THE SOCIAL ASPECT GIVES DOPAMINE HITS.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THE DOPAMINE AFTER THE MENTAL ASPECT.

THE REACHING, THE HITTING, THE QUICKER, THE FASTER REPLEXES THAT ARE NEEDED, THE BODY REMEMBERS THAT STUFF.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH.

TED: THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

PARKINSON'S, WHAT IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE.

>> A NEUROLOGIC DISORDER THAT AFFECTS THE BODY'S ABILITY TO MOVE.

PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S GET TREMORS AND FIND IT HARDER TO MOVE.

THEY MOVE MORE SLOWLY, THEY MOVE WITH SMALLER MOVEMENTS, THAT'S WHY PICKLEBALL IS LIKE A GREAT OVERARCHING SPORT BECAUSE IT BASICALLY FORCES THEM TO MOVE BIG AND FAST.

TED: PRETESTING AND POST TESTING AS FAR AS THE FOLKS ARE CONCERNED.

DID YOU SEE IMPROVEMENT?

DID YOU SEE BIG IMPROVEMENT?

>> WE SAW SOME IMPROVEMENT.

WE STARTED OUT AS A FEASIBILITY STUDY, CAN PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S PLAY PICKLEBALL.

WE FOUND YES, WE CAN.

OUR SAMPLE SIZE IS SMALL.

WE FOUND IMPROVEMENTS WITH FINE MOTOR AND HAND, WHICH MAKES SENSE LIKE HOLDING THE PADDLE.

EVEN BUTTONING THE SHIRT, IT IS IMPORTANT IF YOU CAN'T BUTTON YOUR SHIRT ANYMORE AND YOU WANT TO GO TO A NICE DINNER, YOU KNOW?

WE DIDN'T FIND AS MUCH WITH BALANCE OR GAIT, WE WANT TO DO A BIGGER STUDY WITH MORE PARTICIPANTS, CONTROL A LITTLE BETTER.

TED: YOU MENTIONED DOPAMINE.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

TALK ABOUT HOW BIG A DEAL WITH PARKINSON'S AND WHAT YOU FOUND THROUGH THE STUDY.

>> BECAUSE OF PARKINSON'S, YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH DOPAMINE TO USE, THAT CAUSES SYMPTOMS LIKE SUZANNE WAS TALKING ABOUT, AS WELL AS NONMOTOR SYMPTOMS, DEPRESSION, COGNITION IS BIG.

WHILE WE WEREN'T MEASURING DOPAMINE SPECIFICALLY, MOOD WAS IMPROVED, SOCIALIZATION WAS IMPROVED, MOVEMENT WAS IMPROVED, FINE MOTOR WAS IMPROVED, AND THE PARTICIPANTS ALL PLAY TOGETHER EVERY WEEK, WHICH IS COOL TO SEE.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, THE MENTAL ASPECTS, THE SOCIALIZATION, IS IT PICKLEBALL, DOES THE DOPAMINE BECAUSE OF PICKLEBALL OR THE SOCIALIZATION BECAUSE OF PICKLEBALL?

>> I THINK EVERYTHING, NOT ONLY DOES -- EXERCISE AUTOMATICALLY INCREASES DOPAMINE, MAKES YOU FEEL AND MOVE BETTER.

THAT'S IN AND OF ITSELF, BUT FIGHT THE DEPRESSION, THE SOCIALIZATION, THE CAMARADERIE, AND I THINK -- WE ALL KNOW PICKLEBALL IS A HOT TOPIC, THE HOTTEST SPORT CURRENTLY.

BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SPORT AND EMBED YOURSELF IN A SPORT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, THAT ALSO CAN IMPROVE THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.

TED: NEURODISEASES, COULD THIS POSSIBLY HAVE IMPACT ON OTHER THINGS OUT THERE?

>> WHO KNOWS.

I HAD A STUDENT ASK ME TODAY ABOUT PICKLEBALL AND STROKE.

I SAID THAT'S OUR NEXT STUDY.

TED: IS IT EXERCISE OR IS IT THIS PARTICULAR KIND OF EXERCISE?

>> EXERCISE.

IT'S EXERCISE.

SO IN GENERAL, WE WOULD WANT PEOPLE TO FIND SOMETHING THEY ENJOY.

IT JUST HAPPENS THAT PEOPLE ENJOY PICKLEBALL, RIGHT?

BUT EXERCISE, ANY MOVEMENT IS GOING TO HELP IMPROVE ANY NEUROLOGIC DISORDER OR PREVENT SOME IN THE FUTURE.

TED: AND LAST QUESTION ON THAT, AND THIS IS INTERESTING INFORMATION, IS IT THE EXERCISE BECAUSE IT GETS YOUR CARDIO UP, OR BECAUSE IT GETS YOUR MIND MOVING AND BODY DOING DIFFERENT THINGS?

>> YEAH, SO EXERCISE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S IS NOT ONLY GET CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECT BUT EXERCISE THAT FORCE TO YOU MOVE WITH BIGGER, FASTER MOVEMENTS, THAT'S WHY PICKLEBALL IS A NICE FIT FOR THEM.

NOW EXERCISE IN GENERAL IS GOOD, BUT FINDING AN EXERCISE THAT CAN INCORPORATE ALL OF THAT, THE COGNITION, THE SKILLS, THE MOVEMENT, EVEN BETTER.

TED: CLASSIC STUFF, INNOVATIVE.

PICKLEBALL AND PARKINSON'S, GOOD TO SPEAK WITH YOU, THANKS FOR SHARING.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.