Past Episodes

Research has shown that, for people living with MS, regular exercise and physical activity can improve their quality of life while helping to manage MS symptoms. But research has also shown that people living with MS tend to be less active than people in the general population. In response, the National MS Society convened a group of experts to develop fact-based guidance for promoting exercise and lifestyle physical activity for all people with MS, regardless of their ability level. Joining m...

Paleo...Wahls...Swank...Mediterranean...intermittent fasting. Is there such a thing as "The MS Diet"? Joining me to offer an expert opinion about diet and MS is Dr. Ilana Katz Sand, the Associate Director of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS and Co-Director of the Center's Wellness Program. Dr. Katz Sand's recent and current research studies include a clinical trial of dietary interventions for MS and exploring the role of the gut microbiome in MS. Dr. Katz Sand is also a member of ...

As Chair of the National MS Society's National Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Nancy Sicotte led the expert task force that the MS Society convened to develop the COVID-19 vaccine guidance for people living with MS. Dr. Sicotte is returning to RealTalk MS to answer your questions about the vaccine and MS. Dr. Sicotte is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she's also the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology P...

The National MS Society has issued its initial COVID-19 vaccine guidance for people living with MS and we're covering every detail of this anxiously awaited and important announcement. We're also taking a look back with Dr. Barbara Giesser at some of the things that made life better for people living with MS in 2020. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! National MS Society releases COVID-19 vaccine guidance for people living with MS 1:44 Some of the things that made li...

Research creates the future for people affected by MS. And clinical research can't happen without your participation. Joining me as my guest is Sara Loud, the CEO of iConquerMS, the people-powered-research network that puts you at the center of MS research. We're also celebrating a whole list of MS advocacy wins that will translate into making life better for people living with MS in the United States. We'll tell you about a study that clearly demonstrates why it's essential to start disease-m...

In this episode of RealTalk MS, we're re-visiting my conversation with Dr. Bruce Bebo, the Executive Vice-President of Research at the National MS Society, about some of the most interesting research announcements made during the MSVirtual2020 conference. This is one of my favorite conversations of the entire year, and you've made it this year's most downloaded and listened to RealTalk MS episode. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! Happy New Year! :23 My interview w...

It's safe to say that this year, the biggest gift of the holiday season has been the arrival of not one, but two COVID-19 vaccines. Still, while the COVID-19 vaccines have created a tremendous amount of hope, they've also created an equal number of questions among people who are living with MS. So the National MS Society has convened a group of experts to provide guidance for people living with MS when it comes to making decisions about the safety, efficacy, and the timing of COVID-19 vaccines a...

Feeling some of the stress and anxiety that often come with the holiday season? Who could blame you? If the holidays aren't enough, this year, we're also going through what's looking like the worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress and anxiety aren't guaranteed, but they aren't exactly unexpected, either. My guest this week, Megan Weigel, is here to share some techniques and strategies that we can use to de-stress during the holidays. Megan is a nurse practitioner specializing in neurologi...

Every day, 12 more Canadians are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Facing one of the highest MS rates in the world, spread across a geographically large country, the MS Society of Canada is the only national voluntary organization in Canada that supports cutting-edge MS research while providing services and support to more than 90,000 people living with MS. Joining me as my guest is Dr. Pamela Valentine, who is not only the president & CEO of the MS Society of Canada but also a multi-award win...

MS-related pain is one of those invisible symptoms that can have a profound impact on your quality of life. So we're devoting this entire episode of RealTalk MS to taking a deep dive into assessing and managing MS-related pain with my guests, Dr. Dawn M. Ehde and Dr. Heidi Maloni. Both of my guests are experts at assessing, treating, and managing MS-related pain, but each approaches pain from a slightly different perspective. Dr. Ehde is a clinical psychologist and professor of rehabilitation m...