RealTalk MS

We talk a lot about MS research.  And when we do, we talk about the "investigators"...the experts...the scientists in the laboratories who are expanding our collective knowledge about MS. But who are these folks? How do you become an "investigator"? And why does someone decide that they want to make MS research their professional focus? My guest on the podcast is Dr. Elisabeth Mari, Director of Bi...

MS Activist Marques Jones is running for public office in his home state of Virginia. Marques and I sat down to discuss how his role as an MS Activist led to his candidacy, and how his MS diagnosis has continued to inform his business life and his political life.      We're also talking about the existential threat that now exists for people with pre-existing medical conditions in the U.S., how th...

Experts estimate that depression affects about 50% of the people diagnosed with MS.  And, left unchecked, depression can take your vibrant, colorful world and re-draw it in somber shades of gray.  If there's good news about depression, it's that it can be treated.  In this special Vacation Edition of RealTalk MS, we're going to revisit a really important conversation that I had last November with...

At the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Annual Meeting, I learned about the Pediatric MS Alliance from Jill Blackburn. I met Dr. Miriam Franco and learned about the app that she's developed and you'll want to download. And I sat down with Dr. Rosalind Kalb and MS Activist Marques Jones to learn about MS Path 2 Care - a new set of educational modules designed to empower people living with M...

I've invited a very special guest to talk about the subject that I've received -- by far -- the most requests to discuss on the podcast, and that's sexual function and MS.   We're also talking about the International Progressive MS Alliance's future strategies, World MS Day, and we're giving away an Amazon Echo Dot!   We have a  lot  to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS? ____________ MS Co...

The RealTalk MS podcast is coming to you from the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto, Canada, where the International Progressive MS Alliance is holding its 3rd Scientific Congress. The theme of the event is  Making a Difference Through Rehabilitation & Symptom Management . Yesterday's session included a presentation on how some of the insights from stroke rehabilitation can be transferred to MS reh...

Today -- and every day this week -- the RealTalk MS podcast is coming to you from the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto, Canada, where the International Progressive MS Alliance is holding its 3rd Scientific Congress. The theme of the event is  Making a Difference Through Rehabilitation & Symptom Management .   The first day of the Scientific Congress featured amazing presentations, insightful panel...

Today -- and every day this week -- the RealTalk MS podcast is coming to you from the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto, Canada, where the International Progressive MS Alliance is holding its 3rd Scientific Congress. The theme of the event is  Making a Difference Through Rehabilitation & Symptom Management .   In today's podcast, you'll hear from a renowned progressive MS researcher who is leading...

Today -- and every day this week -- the RealTalk MS podcast is coming to you live from the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel in Toronto, Canada, where, tomorrow, the International Progressive MS Alliance kicks off its 3rd Scientific Congress. The theme of the event is Progressive MS -- Making a Difference Through Rehabilitation & Symptom Management , and on today's podcast episode, we're previewing so...

Living your best life while you're living with MS means learning how to manage and overcome the physical and psychological limitations that MS tries to impose. This week's guest, Dr. Kathleen Zackowski, Senior Director of Patient Management, Care, and Rehabilitation Research for the National MS Society, takes us on a deep dive into MS rehabilitation & symptom management.       We're also talking a...

In 2004, the average wholesale price of available MS disease-modifying therapies was $16,000. In 2013, the average price was $61,000; last year, the average price was more than $83,000. That's why my guest this week is David Mitchell, founder and president of Patients for Affordable Drugs.     We're also talking about the RealTalk MS Podcast Alexa Skill ! If you already own an Amazon Echo, Dot, or...

We have a lot to talk about in this podcast episode! First, a big announcement...the RealTalk MS Podcast has its own Amazon Alexa Skill! If you already own an Amazon Echo, Dot, or any Alexa-enabled device, you can access all sorts of convenient features for listening to RealTalk MS! (And if you don't yet have an Alexa-enabled device, this might be one more reason to get one!)     My guest on the p...

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is holding its Annual Meeting this week in Los Angeles. And with more than 10,000 neurologists all in one place, we're talking about a LOT of news coming out of that conference.   Just some of the topics we're talking about on this week's podcast: The AAN announced new guidelines for treating MS. A new study will convince you to begin MS disease-modifying th...

When we think about MS, we tend to think about it as an adult disease. But the National MS Society reminds us that between 8,000 and 10,000 children up to 18 years old are living with MS in the United States. And studies suggest that between 2 and 5% of everyone living with MS has a history of experiencing the onset of at least one MS symptom before the age of 18.     My guest on the podcast is Dr...

As technology advances at an ever increasing rate, it's speeding up the pace of scientific discovery. In this week's podcast, we're looking at new tech tools -- smartphone apps, desktop programs, and mobile technology -- that will change the way you manage MS fatigue, anxiety, foot drop, MS rehab, and more.  And you'll meet this week's guest, Jayce Riley, an MS Road Warrior who is preparing to rid...

  My podcast guest Stephanie Buxhoeveden was diagnosed with MS when she was 25 years old, working as a neurosurgical ICU nurse. Today, Stephanie is a board-certified Multiple Sclerosis Nurse, she is a Nurse Practitioner and she is the Co-Director of the MS Comprehensive Care Center where she has also been a patient.     Stephanie will share some of her experiences and observations from the dual pe...

March is MS Awareness Month, and tomorrow we'll be observing the first ever Progressive MS Day, which is being celebrated by several MS advocacy groups and state governments around the United States. My guests on the podcast are Dan and Jennifer Digmann.  Jennifer was diagnosed with Progressive MS in 1997, and Dan was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in 2000. Dan & Jennifer met at a National...

Depression affects over one million people around the world who are living with MS. And when you fail to treat depression, every other aspect of life seems to get worse - and that can include your MS symptoms.   My guest on this week's podcast is Dr. Athena Robinson, the Chief Clinical Officer at Woebot Labs, and we're talking about Woebot -- a breakthrough app that lives on your smartphone and ha...

The Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis is a national non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating advances toward a cure for MS. My guests on this week's podcast are Dr. Robert McBurney, the President & CEO of the Accelerated Cure Project for MS, and David Gwynne, who manages their Alliances & Collaborations. We're talking about some of their major initiatives, their recent annou...

To kick off MS Awareness Month, we'll go inside a private VIP research briefing where you'll hear 3 award-winning MS research scientists tell us how their work is impacting our understanding of multiple sclerosis. Then, you'll meet my special guest, Emily Blosberg, founder of Oscar, the MS Monkey. Emily is an amazing young lady who's making life better for some of the youngest folks who are living...

Decisions made by our legislators can have a direct impact on our healthcare, our financial well-being, and our overall quality of life. That's why next week, 300 MS Activists will be in Washington D.C. to hold more than 400 conversations with our elected officials about the legislative issues that are likely to have the greatest impact on people living with MS.    My guest on this week's podcast...

While we're tracking the breakthroughs and discoveries that move us closer to solving the riddle of multiple sclerosis, it's also important to remember that people living with MS need help today. Some of them need help with even the most basic sorts of daily tasks. My guests on the podcast are Angela Lett and Alison Payne from Helping Hands, a non-profit organization that helps adults with MS and...

If you're looking for  no-cost customized, personalized, one-on-one expert advice on all sorts of issues that people with MS encounter, you're going to want to pay attention to my conversation with Kay Julian, Executive Vice-President of Services at the National MS Society.  We're also talking about the demographic imbalance in MS clinical trials, and why that matters. (And you can find the Accele...

Multiple sclerosis doesn't respect borders, and that's why a global response to MS is so necessary. And that's where the MSIF comes in. My guest this week is Mr. Peer Banake, CEO of the MS International Federation. ACTRIMS -- the largest MS research conference in the United States -- took place last week in San Diego, California. We were there, and we're talking about the news and the research ann...

Sometimes, important breakthroughs can come from unexpected places. This week, our guest is Oded Ben Dov, an Israeli game developer who ended up creating life-changing technology designed to help people living with MS, ALS, and other disabilities. We're talking about some exciting news in Progressive MS research. We're also talking about a possible treatment for MS fatigue. Researchers in Australi...