Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

Coffee Break with community member Luke Johnson | S3E2

Welcome to the Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome Luke Johnson as our guest. Luke is an artist and college fitness director based in the United States in Western Massachusetts 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:  
 01:16 Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your life?   
02:57 At which point did you come across the Overcoming MS program?  
06:13 What are some of the challenges you’ve faced at first in adopting the Overcoming MS program? 
09:18 When did you first start to see any kind of positive indicators in following Overcoming MS guidelines?  
14:52 How have you had to adapt your daily healthy habits to the new realities imposed by COVID-19?  
16:59 On a personal note, do you have any unusual interests or hobbies you can tell us about? 
18:58 If there is one piece of advice you can share with people new to the Overcoming MS program, what would that be?  
   
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:    
Follow Luke on Instagram  
Dr Michael Greger’s comprehensive resource on plant-based lifestyle  
A great online course on well-being from Yale University  
Rhona Patrick is a scientist who explores lifestyle tweaks that are beneficial to anyone managing chronic conditions  
Huberman Lab podcast for healthy lifestyle change  
Listen to the Rich Roll podcast on plant-based eating, exercise and wellness  
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.

2020 – What just happened? and what to expect in 2021 with Dr Jonathan White | S3E1

To offer us some much-needed guidance and perspective, and to kick off the third season of the Living Well with MS podcast, we are pleased to welcome back Dr Jonathan White. Dr. White will help us understand how COVID-19 has impacted people with MS and the challenges that remain. He also provides understanding of the implications of the vaccine for people with MS. 
   
Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.     
    
Topics and Timestamps:
01:40 What just happened in reference to 2020? Can you put it all in context from a personal health and wellness perspective?  
03:50 What’s your take on the main ways COVID-19 has impacted the community of people with MS?  
07:11 There have been some pronounced fumbles in the way the pandemic was managed in the UK and US; do you think these nations have righted the ship, and if so, how?  
09:06 What’s your take on positive changes 2021 will bring in terms of eradicating COVID-19?  
11:52 Are there any implications for people with MS getting vaccinated?  
13:49 What’s the difference between the main approved vaccines? Do you recommend people with MS try to get one over another?  
19:30 From an Overcoming MS program perspective, what would you suggest people with MS can do to stay healthy while awaiting vaccination? 
23:40 Are you concerned that developing a COVID-19 vaccine has slowed progress on MS research?  
24:56 Are there any positive by products in terms of MS research that have come from COVID-19-related efforts?  
27:19 Are you concerned about potential mutations that could then blunt the effectiveness of a vaccine? 
31:01 What are you most hopeful about for 2021, personally and professionally?    
 
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:        
Association of British Neurologists Guidance on Vaccination for COVID-19 and Neurological Conditions 
COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for People Living with MS – National MS Society 
MS and the COVID-19 vaccines – MS Society 
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.

Pilates and MS: Building strength for everyone with Rachel Changer | S2E29

Bio:   Rachel is a highly specialized Neurological Physiotherapist with a Masters Diploma in Neurological Rehabilitation. She teaches for the Neuro Academy supporting the development of doctors and allied healthcare professionals into MS as their specialization. Rachel is also an Associate Trainer for the NHS England commissioned Bridges Self-Management Programme.     She became a Pilates instructor in 2014 and specialized in teaching the method to people living with MS in 2016. For three years, Rachel managed the Pilates Studio at an MS Centre teaching mat and large apparatus Pilates to people living with MS.    “My love of Pilates comes from the fact that I coach and empower individuals to look within, to experience movement with a sense of introspection – learning to think, feel and understand their bodies. This facilitates an understanding of what is normal, what changes, and how to accept, self-monitor and regulate the condition.”   Questions:   Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your experience working with people with MS? What is Pilates? Can you also touch on differences between Pilates and other Eastern practices such as Yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, etc.? Do you need special equipment to do Pilates? What are the benefits of Pilates for people with MS? What are the downsides? How can people with more progressive disability do Pilates and stay motivated? What are its benefits to them? How can you modify Pilates for all levels of ability? How do you choose the right Pilates instructor or class? Can you do it on your own? Can you share a final thought with our audience on what motivates or inspires you as a human being?   Links:   Learn more about Rachel Changer Find out about Rachel’s online Pilates classes for people with MS Learn more about the Neuro Academy Learn more about the Bridges Self-Management Programme Read this blog from OMSer Sarah Johnson about her experience with Pilates     Coming up next:   Coming up next week is the start to what we hope will be a lovely holiday season for you all! From all of us at Living Well with MS, we wish you a joyous holiday season and an auspicious kickoff to 2021. We can’t be prouder to serve our listener community, and the OMS community at large, and we look forward to returning early in 2021 with a brand new third season of Living Well with MS and our Coffee Break series. Till then, stay safe, happy and healthy!   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Coffee Break with community member Alex Storey | S2E28

Welcome to our 12th installment of Living Well with MS Coffee Break, and final Coffee Break episode for 2020, where we welcome Alexandra (“Alex”) Storey as our guest!
 
As you may know, tomorrow (December 1st) is Giving Tuesday, and Alexandra is participating in our campaign to help raise much-needed funds for the work OMS delivers to our community, so thank you to her and our gratitude to everyone else in our community, from those who choose to donate to others engaged in the campaign itself.
 
We hope you’ve enjoyed and learned from these intermezzos between our regular episodes, and we look forward to bringing you an exciting new assortment of Living Well with MS full-length and Coffee Break episodes when we return with Season 3 in February 2021! And as always, your comments and suggestions are always welcome by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
 
Bio:
 
Alex Storey lives in Essex with her husband Sam and their dog Elsa. She was diagnosed with RRMS in 2019 and has been following the OMS program since even earlier when she realized it could take a while to receive an official diagnosis. The diet element has been her favorite part of the program to adopt, and she loves how creative it has enabled her to be in the kitchen. It has also opened her eyes to how the food industry and the products we eat have changed over the last century. Alex is also a participant OMS’ 2020 Giving Tuesday campaign.
 
Questions:
 
Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, your life, where you live and anything about yourself you’d like to share? 
When were you diagnosed with MS and how long have you been following the OMS Program? 
You’re quite a creative chef and active in posting on Instagram… can you share a little about your culinary pastime, what it means to you, how it’s helped, especially with MS during Covid-19?
How else have you had to adapt your daily healthy habits to the new realities imposed by Covid-19? 
How has following the OMS program helped you deal with the new realities of Covid-19 times?
You’re also actively involved in supporting OMS in its Giving Tuesday campaign. Can you share with our listeners what Giving Tuesday is?
What are the reasons you’re helping drive giving to OMS for Giving Tuesday?
Do you have any other tips or tricks you can share with our audience that might help them on their own health journeys? 
 
Links
 
Check out Alex’s Instagram feed
View Alex’s Giving Tuesday video
 
 

PPMS and Overcoming MS with Helen Rees Leahy- How do they fit together? | S2E27

Bio:   Helen was diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS in 1997 when she was 37 years old. Being ineligible for any Disease Modifying Treatment (DMT) within the UK National Health Service, she began to explore holistic approaches to managing her condition. She discovered OMS in 2008 and has followed the programme ever since.   Helen lives in Conwy, a small, medieval town in North Wales. In 2017, she took medical retirement from the University of Manchester where she was a Professor in the Department of Art History and Cultural Practice. As an Emerita Professor, Helen continues to research and teach doctoral students. She also spends time hand-weaving and learning Welsh, the language of her ancestors. Helen has never taken medication for her MS and is committed to living well through active self-care.   Questions:   Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, where you’re from, what you do, family, etc. Let’s understand a little bit about your MS journey – when were you diagnosed and how did you initially handle it? When did you discover OMS and why did you decide to follow the program? You’re a member of the OMS community with PPMS – can you shed some light on what PPMS is and what life is like with that specific type of MS? How does the OMS program fit into the realities of someone with PPMS? What are the biggest obstacles to someone with PPMS adopting the program? How do you personally suggest dealing with these obstacles? In your own experience with both PPMS and OMS, how do you measure progress? If you could articulate one specific outcome that five ago, looking forward, you can say you really wanted to achieve and which you’ve now really nailed through adopting OMS, what would that be and why? As someone with PPMS, what can you share with others that have PPMS that motivates or inspires you?   Links:   Follow Helen on Instagram Learn more about Feldenkrais in the UK and globally   Coming up next:   On our final Coffee Break installment for 2020, travel to the UK to meet Alexandra Storey and hear how she’s helping do her part to ensure OMS has a successful outing on Giving Tuesday, all on Living Well with MS Coffee Break #12, which premieres on Monday, November 30, just one day before Giving Tuesday. And to our friends and community members in North America, Happy Thanksgiving!   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Coffee Break with community member Bron Webster | S2E26

Welcome to our 11th installment of Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome fellow podcast host and producer Bron Webster as our guest!   As you now know, we decided to do something a little different in expanding the range of content we produce here at Living Well with MS. To honor the community that forms the beating heart of Overcoming MS, this special series called Coffee Break features short interviews with members of the OMS community talking about their personal journeys adopting and staying on the OMS 7 Step Recovery Program, the challenges they encountered and how they overcame them, and their tips and tricks for sticking to the path that leads to better health. We hope you enjoy and learn from these intermezzos between our regular episodes, and as always, your comments and suggestions are always welcome by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.   Bio:   Bron Webster is many things – blogger, podcast creator/host, entrepreneur – but above all, she is committed. Bron is an expert in MS patient advocacy who works with a leading university in the UK and their neurology medical students, so she's used to representing the MS community with a ‘no agenda’ approach. Bron was diagnosed with MS in 1996 and is still mobile (though much slower these days). She also has 3 members of her family living with MS (1 blood-relative and 2 in-law relatives). She also had a brush with cancer (salivary gland, very rare) in 2014, so it’s fair for her to say this: “I’m a survivor!” Bron is the creator, host and producer of a new podcast about MS, The MS Show.   Questions:   Can you tell us a little about yourself and your personal experience with MS? You’ve recently launched a new MS podcast called The MS Show. Tell us a bit about that and your motivation for becoming a podcaster? How did your personal experience with MS inform the work you do on the podcast and in the broader MS community? What other projects or ventures are you involved in that have some impact on people with MS? If there is one lesson your experience with MS has taught you that you’d like to impart to others, what would that be? Finally, what advice would you give to people with MS on how to cope with some of the new realities in this post-Covid world?   Links:   Bron’s podcast, The MS Show Bron’s website, Multiple Success Bron’s Facebook group   Coming up on our next episode:   On our second-to-last full-length episode of Living Well with MS, launching in just 10 days on November 11, 2020, Geoff Allix is proud to welcome Helen Rees Leahy, a former university professor from North Wales, who discusses her journey with PPMS and how it intertwines with the OMS approach. Join us for this fascinating, first-person exploration of what it’s like to have a rarer form of MS and still tap into the benefits of the OMS program.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

A personal experience with MS: In conversation with BBC Radio Presenter Erika North | S2E25

Bio:   Erika started her career in the music industry at the tender age of 16, working for a PR company who represented The Rolling Stones, U2, Prince, The Spice Girls and many more. One of her earliest highlights was when Cher sent her flowers by Cher to thank her for finding her favorite brand of mineral water when she ran out of it in the middle of the night!   She fell into the world of radio by complete accident in the mid-90s, co-hosting a show on London's Heart 106.2, a job she performed happily for 14 years. Since then, she has presented national breakfast shows, broadcast from the top of Sydney Harbor Bridge during the 2000 Olympics opening ceremony and can now be heard on the airwaves of BBC Radio Kent.   Erika was diagnosed with MS in 2008 and is now happy to put a spotlight on the trials and tribulations her condition bring, with a trademark sense of humor her listeners will be very familiar with!   Discussion Topics:   Erika’s life and MS journey How an MS diagnosis affects someone in a public-facing role How the public impression of MS is changing How Erika has adapted her lifestyle tothe OMS program How OMS is a healthy lifestyle for all How COVID-19 has affected Erika’s healthy habits   Links:   Erika's Twitter Feed   Coming up next:   Coming up next on Living Well with MS Coffee Break #11, premiering Monday, November 2, travel to the UK to meet Bron Webster, creator, producer and host of the new podcast, The MS Show.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Coffee Break with community member Roy Bartlett | S2E24

Happy 10th anniversary and welcome to our tenth installment of Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome Roy Bartlett as our guest! As you now know, we decided to do something a little different in expanding the range of content we produce here at Living Well with MS. To honor the community that forms the beating heart of Overcoming MS, this special series called Coffee Break features short interviews with members of the OMS community talking about their personal journeys adopting and staying on the OMS 7 Step Recovery Program, the challenges they encountered and how they overcame them, and their tips and tricks for sticking to the path that leads to better health. We hope you enjoy and learn from these intermezzos between our regular episodes, and as always, your comments and suggestions are always welcome by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.   Bio:   Although diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1988, Roy doesn’t let anything much slow him down.  He is no stranger to working in charitable organizations and was the founding president of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Asthma Society at the beginning of the 1980s.  From 1986 to the end of 2004 he worked for four different charities, including Alzheimer’s Auckland (1989-99).  Professor Sir Richard Faull, Director of the Centre for Brain Research and Patron of Alzheimer’s Auckland, describes Roy as “significantly changing the landscape of caring for people with dementia during the 1990s”.  In 2002 Roy and his wife Julie co-founded the award-winning charity StarJam, whose mission was to be the leading and most innovative catalyst for facilitating a positive societal change in attitude toward people with disabilities.  Together they set about creating national and international performance and limelight opportunities for young people with disabilities. StarJam continues today to help provide disabled children with a chance to build their confidence, develop their character, discover new friendships and enjoy the thrill of new hope and purpose, the benefits of which are also felt by their family, friends and the wider community.  Currently, Roy is an Ambassador for the Auckland OMS Circle.  He is also a foundation trustee of the The Sources of Unconditional Love Charitable Trust (SOUL), founded by his wife Julie in 2015.  SOUL’s mission is to replace prejudice and discrimination with unconditional love and respect.  Its position is an exclusively positive one aiming to empower teenage girls and young women to be free from the effects of prejudice and to inspire those who discriminate to instead choose unconditional love and respect.   Questions:   Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, your life, where you live and anything about yourself you’d like to share.  When were you diagnosed with MS and how long have you been following the Overcoming MS 7 Step Recovery Program?  What is your favorite thing about the program, namely what do you feel has made the biggest positive impact?  What was your greatest challenge in adopting the OMS program, and how did you overcome it?  I know you’re quite active in the OMS community, and the ambassador of the Auckland Circle in New Zealand. Can you tell us how being a part of the community has informed your journey? How have you had to adapt your daily healthy habits to the new realities imposed by COVID-19?  Do you have any other tips or tricks you can share with our audience that might help them on their journeys?    Coming up on our next episode:   On the next full-length episode of Living Well with MS, launching in just one week on October 21, 2020, Geoff Allix welcomes Erika North, a veteran voice on UK radio and current a presenter for BBC Radio Kent, to discuss her personal OMS journey. Please have a listen to hear Erika’s unique and mellifluous perspective!   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Oils and Overcoming MS: Separating facts from fiction with Jack McNulty | S2E23

Bio:   Jack McNulty has been involved in food and cooking most of his life. He’s walked many paths during his culinary journey, including transforming himself from an interested amateur ‘foodie’ to a professional chef with classical training. Throughout his life and career, he’s explored different food cultures, grown his own vegetables and fruit and ate a lot of meat and fish along the way. He’s been a vegetarian, carnivore, omnivore and fish-eating vegan before landing on his current lifestyle as a vegan.   Jack has worked for some talented and knowledgeable chefs in high-end restaurants in Switzerland, Italy and France. He’s operated his own catering business and cooking school, while finding enough time to write about cooking. Jack is currently operating his own subscription-based website providing instruction and recipes supporting a vegan life.   Jack has followed the OMS lifestyle since 2009. He has actively worked on providing recipes and information to the OMS website and was the contributing editor to the OMS cookbook.   Questions:   Are all oils bad, or are there some beneficial and healthy ones? Is it OK to heat oils when cooking? What happens to oils when they are heated? Does it change their properties for the worst? Do all oils have a similar heat point where their properties change? Is it true that you should never bake higher than 180°C (350°F) if you are using oil? There are many recipes that call for fried veggies, such as onions. How do you substitute this with a healthier alternative? Why can’t I cook with flaxseed oil? If I cook Mediterranean food without olive oil it doesn’t taste the same. Is there anything I can do? Olive oil doesn’t have the right flavor for all recipes. Are there other oils that I can use, such as rapeseed oil or hemp oil, to capture that flavor? What can I use instead of butter for baking?   Links:   You can discover more about Jack or do some impressive window-shopping on his website. The recipes require a subscription, but the rest of the content is free! Here’s a free travel guide listing OMS-friendly places to eat worldwide. A great place to window shop for inspiration and work up an appetite is Jack’s Instagram Follow Jack on Facebook.   Coming up next:   Coming up next, we pop down to the Southern Hemisphere to land in Auckland, New Zealand and meet Roy Bartlett, an OMS Ambassador with a life-changing story. Hear his story on Living Well with MS Coffee Break #10, which premieres on Monday, October 12.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Coffee Break with community member Rowan Baker | S2E22

Welcome to our ninth installment of Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome Rowan Baker as our guest! As you now know, we decided to do something a little different in expanding the range of content we produce here at Living Well with MS. To honor the community that forms the beating heart of Overcoming MS, this special series called Coffee Break features short interviews with members of the OMS community talking about their personal journeys adopting and staying on the OMS 7 Step Recovery Program, the challenges they encountered and how they overcame them, and their tips and tricks for sticking to the path that leads to better health. We hope you enjoy and learn from these intermezzos between our regular episodes, and as always, your comments and suggestions are always welcome by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.   Bio:   Rowan is a UK-based nurse who has been following the OMS Recovery Program for nearly two years. She enjoys yoga and running, crafting and cooking up OMS feasts. She’s currently training towards a half marathon, on the back of a long-distance walk for an MS charity last year. She has written a number of blogs for OMS and her cooking inspiration can be found on Instagram.   Questions:   Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, your life, where you live and anything about yourself you’d like to share? When were you diagnosed with MS and how long have you been following the Overcoming MS 7 Step Recovery Program?  What is your favorite thing about the program, namely what do you feel has made the biggest positive impact?  What was your greatest challenge in adopting the OMS program, and how did you overcome it?  I know you’re quite active in the OMS community, and a frequent blogger. Can you tell us how being a part of the community has informed your journey? You also work for the NHS. Can you share a perspective on how that interconnects with your MS and experiences with OMS? How have you had to adapt your daily healthy habits to the new realities imposed by COVID-19?  Do you have any other tips or tricks you can share with our audience that might help them on their journeys?    Links:   Check out Rowan’s blogs on the OMS website Rowan’s Instagram feed   If you post something concerning OMS and COVID-19, especially if it’s a bit of good news during this rough patch, don’t forget to use the hashtag #positivelyOMS.   Coming up on our next episode:   On the next full-length episode of Living Well with MS, launching September 30, 2020, Geoff Allix is joined by OMS culinary favorite Jack McNulty to demystify the questions of oils – separating fact from fiction – in this important conversation for anyone confused about the benefits and drawbacks of which oils to use in your OMS-friendly kitchen.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.