Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis
Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast from the Overcoming MS charity. In each episode, your host Geoff Allix explores a different aspect of the Overcoming MS Program in greater depth by talking with experts and people with MS about health lifestyle changes. New episodes are published on Wednesdays and feature interviews with scientists, neurologists, fitness specialists, diet experts, stress reduction professionals. The podcast also features inspirational, real-life stories from people with multiple sclerosis following the Overcoming MS program, about the challenges and victories of managing symptoms through lifestyle modification.
Listen on:
Episodes
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Welcome to the Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we are pleased to welcome Pat Feller as our guest! Pat lives in California with progressive MS and follows the Overcoming MS program.
Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Questions and Timestamps:
01:28 Can you tell us a little about yourself, your life, and your family?
02:44 How about your experience with MS?
11:24 How about the Overcoming MS program then? What positives did you see? What problems did you have?
16:25 How was it transitioning to various parts of the program?
21:40 The Overcoming MS Circles
24:33 How did you have to adapt your daily habits? Did you find it quite easy to do mindfulness?
25:20 Tell us a little bit about Wim Hoff because I think it's quite an interesting topic.
28:09 How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your healthy habits? Could you get out and exercise? How did it change?
33:30 What would be the best piece of advice you could give to someone who is newly diagnosed with MS, or new to the Overcoming MS program?
Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Check out Pat’s profile on LinkedIn
Check out Pat’s Instagram feed.
Pat recommends this TED talk by Bob Cafaro, a cellist with the Philadelphia Symphony who was diagnosed with MS and achieved very good results with a protocol very similar to Overcoming MS.
Pat loves this interview with the incredible Dr. Saray Stancic MD, who was diagnosed with MS and discovered the power of lifestyle medicine
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.
Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
The holidays are upon us, which for many of us means time spent with family eating a smorgasbord of delicious foods. This highly anticipated seasonal ritual sometimes leads to unintended consequences – expanded waistlines and hefty price tags for all the holiday meals you’ve had to stock up ingredients for.
On this episode of Living Well with MS, we are pleased to welcome Karen Lee of The Sensitive Foodie Kitchen, to help us navigate holiday eating in a healthy way that won’t burst the bank.
Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps
01:29 Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your experience with MS, and how you got into the healthy food game?
03:36 What is the Sensitive Foodie Kitchen?
04:39 What are the main challenges you see people facing when it comes to staying true to the Overcoming MS diet while wanting to indulge in some delicious holiday food?
07:30 You talk in your courses and website about “managing energy”. Can you explain that concept and how it applies practically?
13:42 You’re a big fan of plant-based alternatives to traditional holiday foods. Can you tell us some of your main course favorites and where people can find great recipes for them?
19:56 How about ideas for healthy sides or sauces? How do you spice up veggies or make sauces that are free of meat or dairy but still excite the palate?
24:31 What are your best tips for making healthy and delicious food without spending a fortune on all these extra ingredients?
29:51 What are your best tips for making holiday desserts more Overcoming MS-friendly without all those elaborate expensive ingredients?
33:37 Bailey’s is a cream-based liquor that people use to make egg nog. You have some clever ways to make an Overcoming MS-friendly version at home. Can you share your secret?
38:05 I understand you teach many of these techniques through your course offerings. Can you tell our audience a bit about that and how they can learn more if they’re interested?
40:09 Finally, before we let you go off to do your own holiday cooking, what is your personal absolute favorite holiday meal from starter to main course to dessert?
Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Check out The Sensitive Foodie Kitchen website for Overcoming MS-friendly holiday recipes
Check out Karen’s recipe for dairy-free Bailey’s
Watch (and learn how to) Karen makes mince pies on YouTube
Check out The Sensitive Foodie on Facebook, Instagram
Karen’s Special Overcomin MS-friendly Yule Log Recipe
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Welcome to the Living Well with MS Coffee Break where we are pleased to welcome Nicole Zobrist as our guest! Nicole lives with MS in Portland, Oregon in the Pacific Northwest and follows the Overcoming MS program.
Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
02:21 Can you tell us a little about yourself, day-to-day life, your family, and where you live?
03:43 How about your experience with MS? When were you diagnosed and how did you initially cope with it?
06:58 At which point did you come across the Overcoming MS program?
08:59 I understand that stress management was one of your biggest challenges in adopting the program, and it led you to make some serious life changes. Can you tell us a little more about that?
11:22 What are some of the other challenges you’ve faced at first in adopting the Overcoming MS program?
14:05 When did you first start to see any kind of positive indicators in following Overcoming MS guidelines?
17:51 You’re currently the ambassador of the Overcoming MS Circle in Portland, Oregon. Can you talk to us about the Overcoming MS Circles experience?
22:03 Can you share a little more about your foodie persona, and perhaps some tips to achieving healthier eating habits that have worked for you?
24:49 What’s a piece of advice that would help people ease into and better adopt the Overcoming MS program?
Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Read the blog post Nicole wrote for Overcoming MS
Find out more about our latest campaigns, mentioned in this episode, here
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
On this episode of Living Well with MS, we welcome two of Overcoming MS’s newest trustees – Prof. Helen Rees Leahy and Alison Marwick – for a special roundtable discussion on advocacy. This episode dives into how we develop tools and resources to enable OMSers to have confidence in talking about Overcoming MS to family, friends, and health care professionals.
Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
01:31 Introduction of the guests and their journey with MS and Overcoming MS
06:29 What is advocacy? What are the types of advocacy?
11:14 How is advocacy particularly important to the Overcoming MS community?
13:53 How can you advocate by using your own experiences?
22:26 What is the Overcoming MS Advocacy Group?
26:38 Are there resources for people to help them with their advocacy journey?
30:15 How do you measure success of the advocacy group in Overcoming MS?
Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Check out the new advocacy page on our website
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Welcome Living Well with MS where we are pleased to welcome professional holistic chef Jack McNulty as our guest. In this episode, we have curated a set of commonly asked questions around holiday cooking. With the onslaught of the holidays upon us, people following the Overcoming MS program face challenges in making traditional holiday recipes compliant with their dietary choices. Jack has had ample experience in navigating healthy eating and holiday food fun. Following Overcoming MS dietary guidelines doesn’t mean you have to forgo the joy of holiday eating.
Topics and Timestamps:
03:32 How do I keep from ‘cheating’ when I’m around family and everyone is eating food I can’t eat or enjoy?
07:10 Do you have any ideas for sweets I could make for the holidays?
13:45 This is my first year with MS, I’m new to Overcoming MS and I am struggling to come up with ideas for food I can enjoy during the holidays. Any suggestions?
24:44 I’m confused about chocolate and what is recommended on the Overcoming MS diet.
35:25 What’s the difference between Dutch-process Cocoa and Cocoa? Are both Overcoming MS-recommended? Is raw cocoa better than cocoa?
Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Check out this blog post on 5 tips to avoid binge eating during the holidays.
Here’s a link to Jack’s blog post about holiday cooking ideas.
Want more cooking ideas? Check out the Overcoming MS cookbook
Here’s an in-depth article on the effects of alkalization on cocoa.
Learn about the difference between Dutch processed and natural cocoa.
Learn about the difference between cocoa and cacao.
Subscribe to Jack’s newsletter publication on weekly vegan recipes here.
Connect with Jack: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Welcome to the Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we are pleased to welcome Lieza Vanden Broeke as our guest! Lieza lives in with MS in Christchurch, New Zealand and follows the Overcoming MS program.
Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
02:03 Can you describe your life before your MS diagnosis?
02:59 How did you find out that you had MS?
08:17 What was it like after your diagnosis was confirmed?
10:46 How did the pandemic affect you being in Hong Kong?
11:48 How did you discover Overcoming MS?
20:28 Have things continued to decline?
24:58 Can you describe how Overcoming MS has affected you over all?
Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Read an article about Lieza in the NZ Herald
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
On this episode of Living Well with MS, we welcome back Dr Aaron Boster, an Ohio-based neurologist specializing in MS. Dr Boster has featured on episodes that tackled exploring how to make the right medication choices and the impacts of lifestyle choices on MS. Now we tap his expertise to help us grapple with an important topic that isn’t discussed as often as it should be – sex. Sex and sexuality are vital dimensions of a healthy life, but how are they impacted by MS?
Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
03:09 You’ve recently joined the Overcoming MS board of trustees. How has the experience been so far and what compelled you to join in this capacity?
07:55 How would you define sexuality in the context of MS?
09:00 Is it common for people with MS to experience sexual dysfunction or other challenges with having a normal sexual life?
10:09 Do the types of sexual dysfunction differ depending on the types of MS you have?
13:39 If a man is experiencing sexual dysfunction connected to his MS, what are his options for managing it?
15:53 What if you’re a woman experiencing sexual dysfunction connected to your MS. What are your options for managing it?
25:27 Is it worth getting couples counseling?
30:11 Some people with MS encounter some sort of physical impediments or disabilities. How might that affect your sexual life and what can you do about it?
33:47 Is there any research going on that studies MS and its influence on a person’s sexual life?
36:39 If there was one critical takeaway you could share with anyone in our audience experiencing sexual issues related to their MS, what would it be?
39:55 Is there a general framework for deciding whether to try a supplement and are there any whose positive effects are supported by an evidence base?
Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Check out Dr Boster’s popular YouTube channel covering all aspects of MS
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
Monday Oct 04, 2021
Monday Oct 04, 2021
Welcome to the Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we are pleased to welcome Katy Glenie as our guest! Katy lives with MS in Taupō, New Zealand and follows the Overcoming MS Program.
Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
01:34 Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your life?
02:23 How about your experience with MS? When were you diagnosed and how did you initially cope with it?
04:13 What are some of the challenges of having MS and living in a remote place?
08:08 At which point did you come across the Overcoming MS program?
09:12 What are some of the challenges you’ve faced at first in adopting the Overcoming MS program?
13:32 When did you first start to see any kind of positive indicators in following Overcoming MS guidelines?
16:56 How did you get into climbing, and how do you balance your own health needs with a rigorous physical activity?
22:55 One of your other passions is caring for the environment and reducing consumption. How do you put that into practice in your daily life?
27:50 What’s a nugget of wisdom that would help people ease into and adopt the Overcoming MS program?
Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Check out Katy’s Instagram
Learn more about climbing mountains in New Zealand from Katy’s climbing website
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
On this episode of Living Well with MS, we are joined by Ingrid Adelsberger to discuss her experience with pregnancy while living with MS. She is the editor of the Overcoming MS cookbook, the former ambassador of the Overcoming MS Circle in Los Angeles, and the current co-ambassador of the global Overcoming MS Circle. Ingrid is also a proud mom to a two-year-old daughter named Romy.
Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
01:32 Can you tell our audience a little bit about yourself?
02:29 When were you first diagnosed with MS and how long was it till you came across the Overcoming MS program?
03:50 How has the experience of following the Overcoming MS program been for you?
07:33 When you first started thinking about getting pregnant and starting a family, what were your initial concerns as it pertains to having a healthy pregnancy while having MS?
11:57 Did you take any specific precautions or measures to ensure your pregnancy would be smooth without flaring up any MS symptoms?
15:18 Did having MS affect your pregnancy and did pregnancy affect your MS?
18:07 Did you get any specialist advice from your obstetrician about having MS or from your neurologist about being pregnant?
19:41 Is there anything you would have done differently in hindsight?
20:21 Do you think that having a baby has any long-term effect on your MS symptoms?
24:20 How did you deal specifically with the stress of having a newborn while having MS?
27:13 What would you recommend to someone with MS who was considering starting a family?
Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Ingrid used The Bump as a tracking tool throughout her pregnancy
Ingrid recommends What to Expect When Expecting
Ingrid practiced hypnobirthing
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Welcome to the Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we are pleased to welcome Jen DeTracey as our guest! Jen is a life coach and YouTuber who lives with MS and follows the Overcoming MS program.
Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
01:27 Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your life?
03:42 How about your experience with MS? When were you diagnosed and how did you initially cope with it?
06:54 How did you find the healthcare infrastructure in Canada, in getting and managing your diagnosis?
11:02 What kind of lifestyle changes did you have to make to deal with the new MS reality, and how did that affect your work?
13:00 Can you give us a little insight into what you experienced and what helped you manage some of these challenges?
19:13 Can you tell us about Lift Strategies, the book you wrote? What’s it about and why did you decide to write it?
20:59 You founded Women Thriving with MS. What is your mission, and what impact do you hope to make on the MS community through this effort?
25:04 If there's one thing that could be your legacy for your impacts on the MS community, what would that be?
26:40 What advice would you give to someone just starting to make lifestyle changes to help manage MS?
Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Check out Women, Live Better with MS – Discover 4 Powerful ways to REDUCE Stress, a four-part coaching series for women living with MS
Check out Women Thriving with MS on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
Check out Jen’s book on marketing on Amazon
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.