Past Episodes

We're celebrating the 5th anniversary of RealTalk MS and we're kicking it off with my exclusive conversation with CNN national correspondent and anchor, John King. John was diagnosed with MS in 2008. However, John didn't disclose his diagnosis until 2021 -- in an unplanned moment on national television. John shares his MS journey from the day he was diagnosed through his unplanned disclosure. And he also shares a message for anyone who is newly diagnosed with MS. Then, we're doing something co...

In addition to its physical symptoms, MS can also affect your emotional well-being. Depression, persistent anxiety, and extreme irritability are common. And, just like the physical symptoms of MS, they require treatment. But people living with MS tend to focus on their physical health and, too often, end up neglecting their mental health. Dr. Dawn Ehde joins me to talk about maintaining and strengthening your emotional well-being when you're living with MS, and she'll introduce you to a new res...

The conversation between a doctor and patient is evolving from a time when that conversation was often limited to the doctor prescribing a particular disease-modifying medication and the patient silently nodding their head in agreement to something much more closely resembling a real conversation. Shared decision-making offers the patient an opportunity to discuss their treatment goals, explain their risk tolerance, and talk about their comfort level with side effects. But not every neurologis...

When you're living with MS, even the most mundane daily tasks can sometimes be challenging. There are days when opening a door, taking things out of a drawer or a cupboard, or picking something up from the floor can all seem out of reach. Those just happen to be some of the many tasks that a service dog can help you with. This week, attorney Trevor Hardy joins me to talk about the impact that his service dog, Tristan, has had on his life. We're also reviewing what you need to know about monkeyp...

Women are roughly 3 times more likely to develop MS compared to men. But when men develop MS, they're more likely to experience a more aggressive disease course. Men are more likely to experience motor problems, loss of coordination and balance, and cognitive difficulties. When they experience a relapse, men are more likely to see their exacerbated symptoms continue, even during times of remission. Given these evidence-based observations, it seems sadly ironic that, as they develop MS symptoms,...

More than half of the people living with MS report significant disruptions in their sleep and difficulty maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. Sleep-related problems can lead to additional health issues, not to mention an overall decline in quality of life and well-being. The Director of the Sleep, Health, and Wellness Lab at the University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Dr. Katie Siengsukon, returns to the podcast to talk about how sleep ...

One of the realities of living with MS is that you're often dealing with invisible symptoms. And because symptoms like numbness and tingling, fatigue, depression, vision issues, and pain aren't apparent to others, it can be hard for people around you to understand what MS is all about and, specifically, what you might be struggling with. Kathy Costello returns to the podcast to discuss how to best manage the invisible symptoms of MS and how you can constructively shut down those conversations t...

Dating can be tricky for anyone. And it doesn't get any easier if you happen to be living with MS. In addition to all the typical dating considerations, you also have to think about things like if, how, and when to disclose your MS. You want to make sure your dating activities are physically doable. That might mean no long walks on the beach when the temperature is soaring. It might mean no hikes up steep mountain trails. And it might even mean having to postpone your date because your symptoms...

Imagine that, using your smartphone, you log into a Zoom call from home. You connect with your MS specialist and, while you're chatting, an artificial intelligence-based system is analyzing biometric measurements that will enable your doctor to deliver or fine-tune an MS treatment plan that's been personalized to meet your exact needs. That's the vision driving NeuraLight, an early-stage company that's, first, aiming to re-write clinical trial design and accelerate new drug development. Joining...

In last week's episode, we looked at talking with kids about MS. This week, we'll visit the opposite end of the spectrum as Dr. John Corboy discusses some of the things you'll want to think about as you age with MS. Dr. Corboy is a professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and the Director of the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Colorado. Dr. Corboy is also the Principal Investigator in a recently completed clinical trial that focused ...