Can Do MS Podcast

Men and MS: Navigating Identity, Resilience, and Hope – Episode 201 In this episode we chat with Luis who will share his journey of living with multiple sclerosis and how the disease challenged his identity, career, relationships, and sense of control. Together, Luis and Stephanie explore the unique pressures many men face when living with a chronic illness, including isolation, vulnerabilit...

Redefining Balance with MS – Episode 200 What does balance really look like with MS?  Stephanie meets with Lisa Doggett to share honest insights on managing health, work, and family. Also getting into the hidden effort behind staying stable, and why balance is about constant adjustment, not perfection. Thank you to the generous support of our sponsors of this podcast episode, including Kathl...

MS & Motherhood: Planning a Family Through Uncertainty – Episode 199 What does family planning look like with MS? Stephanie talks with Emily about her journey from diagnosis and meeting her husband through the MS community to navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and treatment decisions. They explore what research says about MS, fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum, along with the real...

The Puzzle of Progression – Episode 198 Multiple sclerosis (MS) is evolving—and so is the way we understand it. In this episode, host Stephanie Buxhoeveden sits down with physician’s assistant Lisa Fox to unpack one of the most important shifts in MS care: recognizing progression beyond relapses. They explore the concept of PIRA (progression independent of relapse activity), why patients may...

Trust Your Body: MS, Menopause, and Speaking Up – Episode 197 When MS symptoms don’t feel like MS anymore, hormones may be part of the story. Dawn shares her 25-year MS journey, how perimenopause complicated her symptoms, and how lived experience led her from patient to research collaborator with iConquerMS. This episode is a powerful reminder that women’s voices belong in science. Disclaime...

Cognition and the Science of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation in MS – Episode 196 Cognitive changes in MS are often misunderstood. In this episode, Stephanie talks with Dr. Leigh Charvet about what cognition in MS really looks like—why processing speed, not memory loss, is the most common challenge, and why symptoms can fluctuate day to day. They break down what non-invasive brain stimulators...

MS Beyond the City: Living With MS in Rural and Underserved Communities – Episode 195 Living with multiple sclerosis is shaped not only by the disease, but by where you live. In this episode, we explore what “rural” and “underserved” truly mean in real life for people with MS. Moving beyond ZIP codes and statistics, the conversation centers on lived experience: long drives to care, delayed d...

Unpacking MS Progression and BTK Inhibitors – Episode 194 In this episode, we will have honest and hopeful conversation about two of the biggest topics in multiple sclerosis today, progression and the next major frontier in treatment: BTK inhibitors. They unpack what makes BTK inhibitors so unique, how they work inside immune cells and the brain, and why they could represent a game-changing...

MS, Mindset & the Power of Daily Choices – Episode 193 Why are new habits so hard? Health coach Amy Behimer joins host Stephanie to share practical, compassionate tools for building habits that stick, especially while living with MS. From mindset to movement, learn how to start small, listen to your body, and take action that lasts. Disclaimer: This podcast provides general educational i...

Speech-Language Pathology and MS: Support for Thinking, Communication, and Daily Life – Episode 192 Think speech therapy is just for slurred speech or swallowing? Think again. In this episode, host Stephanie Buxhoeveden chats with Speech Language Pathologist Lauren Schwabish about how speech-language pathologists support people with MS in managing thinking, memory, planning, and communicatio...

Navigating MS Together: A Patient’s Journey and Her Neurologist’s Insight – Episode 191 – Transcript In this episode, we explore what it’s really like to be newly diagnosed with MS through the personal story of Fran Peed, who went from MS advocate to MS patient. Fran reflects on the first two years of living with MS — a period of uncertainty, adjustment, and learning how to manage both...

Addressing Swallowing Difficulties and Nutritional Deficiencies in MS – Episode 190 Swallowing issues and nutrition changes are common in MS but often overlooked. Host Stephanie Buxhoeveden is joined by speech-language pathologist Dr. Corinne Jones and dietitian Carla Cos to explore how MS affects eating—and what you can do about it. Learn practical strategies to stay safe, eat well, and ada...

Weight Loss Drugs and MS: What You Should Know – Episode 189 Weight-loss medications are gaining attention—but how do they fit into life with MS? In this episode, host Dr. Stephanie Buxhoeveden talks with Dr. Alise Carlson from the Cleveland Clinic about how these medications work, their potential benefits and risks for people with MS, and what to consider when it comes to hormones, bone hea...

Disclosing MS: One Advocate’s Journey from Private to Public – Episode 188 In this episode, host Stephanie Buxhoeveden talks with Kenneth Bandler, a longtime communications professional and MS advocate, about his deeply personal journey with multiple sclerosis and the decision to disclose his diagnosis—first to close family, and years later, to his workplace. Ken shares how he kept his MS pr...

Taking the Next Step With Confidence: Navigating Foot Drop and Mobility with MS – Episode 187 – Transcript In this episode, we are joined by physical therapist Samantha Balistreri and orthotist Spencer Van Wagenen to break down what foot drop is, what devices like AFOs and FES can do for you. Then we will deep dive into how PTs and orthotists work together to find the right support—wit...

Facing MS: From First Symptoms to First Steps – Episode 186 – Tr anscript In this episode, we explore how the landscape of being newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) has transformed over the last decade. Thanks to advances in MRI technology, biomarkers, and updated diagnostic criteria, more people are being diagnosed earlier.  We break down how diagnosis and treatment options h...

Finding Your Calm: Mindfulness and MS – Episode 185 – Tr anscript In this powerful and insightful episode, host Stephanie welcomes mindfulness expert Robert Simpson to explore the vital connection between stress, mindfulness, and multiple sclerosis.  They also dive into self-compassion, the stress care partners face, and how mindfulness can foster empowerment and deeper connection. Whe...

Living Well With MS While Managing Pain – Episode 184 – Tr anscript In this episode, we explore how to manage the different types of pain associated with multiple sclerosis.  We discuss the role of behavioral interventions like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and behavioral activation in reducing pain’s impact and improving quality of life. We also share practical tips for p...

My MS Story – Episode 183 – Tr anscript In this episode we join our host Stephanie Buxhoeveden and special guest Ashley Ratcliff Lundy as we dive into the personal journeys of living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as we share unique stories of diagnosis, the emotional rollercoaster that follows, and how perspectives on life have shifted since that moment. From the first signs of MS to th...

Navigating Pediatric MS – Challenges, Treatment, and Hope for the Future – Episode 182 – Tr anscript In this episode, we join our host Stephanie Buxhoeveden and two special guests Emily Blosberg with Oscar the Monkey and Harvard Neurology professor Tanuja Chitnis. Together we explore the complexities of pediatric multiple sclerosis and how it differs from the adult form of the di...

Debunking Myths and Crafting Sleep Strategies for MS – Episode 181 – Tr anscript In this episode we join our host Stephanie Buxhoeveden and special guest Areti Vassilopoulos, we dive into the challenges of managing sleep with multiple sclerosis. From debunking common myths to exploring practical, real-life strategies, we provide insights on how to improve your sleep quality. Whether yo...

Aging with MS: Navigating the Journey – Episode 180 – Tr anscript In this episode we join our host Stephanie Buxhoeveden and special guest Le Hua as we explore the unique experiences of living with multiple sclerosis as we age.  Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with MS for years, this episode provides the support, inspiration, and knowledge you need to embrace t...

Transforming Your Mental Health Journey with MS – Episode 179 – Tr anscript Join host Dr. Stephanie Buxhoeveden with guest neuropsychologist Meghan Beier, who joins us to dive deeper into how various therapeutic approaches can transform your mental health journey with MS. Whether you’re living with MS or a care partner, you’ll find helpful explanations of different therapie...

Care Partners in Action: Celebrating Friendship and Support – Episode 177 – Tr anscript Join host Stephanie Buxhoeveden, an MS clinician and researcher, as she welcomes Sharon Vaughn and her care friend, Eileen Dubois. In celebration of Caregivers Month, Sharon and Eileen share their inspiring friendship and the unique ways they support one another. Discover the powerful bond between a...

Hope in Innovation: Exploring CAR-T Cell Therapy for MS – Episode 178 – Tr anscript Join host Dr. Stephanie Buxhoeveden, someone living with multiple sclerosis and a dedicated clinician and researcher. In this episode, she welcomes Dr. Gregory Wu, who is making significant strides in MS research, particularly in CAR-T cell therapy. Join us as they dive into an engaging conversation abo...