MS Understood

Crowd funding - https://www.gofundme.com/f/raise-money-for-a-disability-beach-access-wheel-chair Book- Hope: Fighting Multiple Sclerosis by Bree-Arne Manley Bree-Arne Instagram

In this episode of MS Understood , I chat with Paddy Macrae, writer and creator of the Netflix series Irreverent . We dive into why he made the powerful choice to include a character living with multiple sclerosis in the show — and how her story challenges the usual way disability is portrayed on screen. Paddy shares his thoughts on the importance of diverse casting, what it means to represent a “...

In this episode, I chat with Cassidy – actor, filmmaker, and content creator – and honestly, this convo was so worth the wait. Cassidy shares how a sudden bout of optic neuritis turned everything upside down, and how that moment ended up being a major turning point. We talk about the shift to becoming a more positive person, discovering meditation, and learning to really take charge of life. We al...

In this episode, I chat with the incredible Cate. From a wild MS diagnosis to rediscovering her love of cycling, Cate has gone on to ride across Vietnam, walk the Camino de Santiago, and now she’s planning to cycle around Australia . We talk about setting big, audacious goals, how movement has helped her reconnect with her body, and how she’s now using her lived experience to support other busines...

In this episode, I catch up with Hayley, who you might remember from 2022, we spoke just two weeks before she was about to have HSCT. She’s back to share what the whole experience was really like, how she got through it, and why she’s so thankful she went ahead with it. We also chat about the mindset shift that comes with HSCT, how it’s not a cure (and why that’s hard to explain to others), and th...

It's been almost 3 years since I last released an episode of a MS Understood. In this episode at my dad, Frank interviews me to share what I've been up to and what's happening next. Things mentioned in this episode: Sex and multiple sclerosis with sexologist Chantelle Otten - https://open.spotify.com/episode/13bTpXdbU1TSiDPOlw5mbb?si=85025db32a964be4 Wheelchair Meets Wilderness - https...

After working in a high powered, incredibly busy job Courtney noticed she had developed vertigo and was struggling to walk in a straight line. After her diagnosis Courtney focused on simplifying and being less stressed, one habit at s time. The thread of simple and stress free are strong throughout Courtneys life. We talk about the line in the sand, the before and after that comes from a chronic i...

Today on MS understood we chat with Steven. Steven shared a story that is all too familiar, being diagnosed as a young man at 16 and how confusing this can be in the formative years, when being a teenager is hard enough on it own. We talked about what am amazing financial support the NDIS is, and Steven not only receives the support but works for the NDIS and is so grateful to be able to give back...

Hayley was diagnosed quite quickly, and after having two failed treatments she has been recommended to join the stem cell treatment at St Vincents hospital in Sydney. We talk about the eligibility criteria, why it’s still a trial in Australia, and why it’s such a difficult decision to make. Hayley is going to do a video journal of her stem cell process. I found this such an interesting chat about...

This episode of MS Understood is sponsored by the Reassess Your MS campaign by Novartis Australia, helping people with MS to monitor their symptom changes and have informed discussions with their healthcare teams. Reassess Your MS Campaign Sarah shares with us about her diagnosis battling with a newborn, an unprecedented pandemic and a new business. Sarah talks about how her career in the law does...

When we recorded this interview Reena was in hospital in the process of receiving HSCT treatment for multiple sclerosis. After being diagnosed at 17, Reena was told for years that her MS was mild, even while having yearly relapses, and not to worry about taking medication to help stop progression of her disease. During this episode Reena talks through the process of getting approved for HSCT in En...

This chat with Brooke was full of so many lightbulb moments for me. We talk about a diagnosis leading to the uncovering of co exisiting conditions. I was activated when Brooke talked about using a wheelchair instead of pushing through. This conversation was a catalyst for my decision to start using a wheelchair. Brooke talks about using medicinal cannabis, and there’s some links to other episodes...

Today on MS Understood we chat with Chris. We talked about the skewed view of disease in the world but particularly when working as a chronic care nurse working with people who are quite debilitated from their multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Living with MS and working in that space is curious and a constant reminder to Chris that is really is a spectrum disease. We talk about the guilt that arises i...

On today’s episode of MS understood I chat with Victoria, an English expat living in Hong Kong. Victoria talks about her journey to deciding to have HSCT, how her symptoms show up now and how before she was diagnosed, as with so many of us, her experiences and awareness was only with people who lived with physical symptoms of MS. Victoria’s mum also has MS, so she has grown up with the disease but...

MS Understood Listener Survey Affirm. Affirmation Cards. A dose of daily inspiration for life with a chronic illness Today on the MS Understood Podcast we chat with Ashleigh Rose, from The A Rose Collective. Ashleigh is a ray of light who shares her MS story on Instagram and her website pretty candidly. Today she shares her difficult diagnosis story. I think story is really important to share how...

MS Understood Listener Survey Affirm. Affirmation Cards. A dose of daily inspiration for life with a chronic illness Today on MS Understood we chat with public speaker, resilience coach, artist and medical advocate Justine Martin. We talk about how her life has done a complete 180 since diagnosis, we speak about how art has changed her life, and so much more. I seriously loved her answer to my "wh...

MS Understood Listener Survey Affirm. Affirmation Cards. A dose of daily inspiration for life with a chronic illness Today on the MS Understood Podcast we chat with comedian, actor, writer, screen writing teacher and MS advocate Tim Ferguson. He shares about using MS as your gimmick, why he accepted of his MS, how he gets by day to day, why he decided to disclose his diagnosis to the world, why pe...

MS Understood Listener Survey Affirm. Affirmation Cards. A dose of daily inspiration for life with a chronic illness Today on the MS Understood Podcast we chat with Ardra Shephard who shares her MS story through her blog and Instagram Tripping On Air. Today Ardra talks about how bladder and bowl issues effect her, and how they shouldn't be so stigmatised, about why she shares her life so publicly...

MS Understood Listener Survey Affirm. Affirmation Cards. A dose of daily inspiration for life with a chronic illness Today on the MS Understood Podcast we chat with interviewer, teacher, writer and advocate Astrid Edwards. We talked about her chapter in the newly published Growing Up Disabled in Australia. She shares talks about trusting yourself when you know something just isn't right in your bo...

Today on MS understood we chat with Carol Cooke. Carol like so many of us had a devastating diagnosis story. Through her story it is evident that mindset really is everything. After Carol was diagnosed she had to stop working and she created a whole new life herself. It's really true for Carol that there is a before and after her MS diagnosis. After her diagnosis she created a huge fundraiser that...

AFFIRM. daily inspiration for life with a chronic illness link Today I'm chatting with Zoe and Rosie from Neurological Physiotherapy Geelong. We chat about the difference between muscular physio and a neurophysio. If and why you might see both types of physiotherapists. How an individual treatment plan is designed and how a neurophsyio can have a great wholistic understanding of our disease. I lov...

Today on MS understood we chat with Dave Walsh. Dave was training for able body strong man competition when he got his first MS symptoms. Having family members with MS didn't make Dave's diagnosis any easier. After grieving is love for the strong man competition he discovered disabled strong person events. Turns out this was great for rediscovering himself and steering away from toxic masculinity....

I sat and chatted with my seven year old son about what it's like to have a mum with multiple sclerosis. I was given my diagnosis when Elliot was just two and a half, so it'd really all he has ever known. I also don't have invisible symptoms and can't hide them, so we're very open about MS in our house. This is just Elliot's experience. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of MS Unde...

Today on MS understood we chat with Lissette Galarza. Lisette was passionate about changing her mindset but working towards small goals and took control of her life. Lisette went from struggling to walk to doing an Iron Man and she shares how she did that. We talk about how maintaining our health is stressful and a full time job. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of MS Understood....

On today's episode we chat with Chantelle Otten. Chantelle is a Melbourne based Psycho-sexologist who is passionate about empowering people to feel great about their sexual health, self-esteem, communication and education. Chantelle is well known for her gorgeous voice, her educational Instagram account and her passion for normalising sexuality. She has built an incredible career and business arou...