Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

Welcoming Grazina Berry, new Overcoming MS CEO | S2E19

On this episode of the Living Well with MS podcast, we welcome Grazina Berry the new CEO of Overcoming MS. Grazina is passionate, driven and committed to making a positive difference to the lives of all communities and helping Overcoming MS achieve its goal to reach everyone diagnosed with MS around the world. 
Topics and timestamps:
01:10 Can you tell our audience and the Overcoming MS community a bit about yourself personally so we can get to know you? 
03:23 You’ve held senior leadership roles at other charities, most recently as CEO of the Aplastic Anaemia Trust. What challenges have you encountered so far? 
06:18 What’s your personal philosophy on the place a charity like Overcoming MS should have in the communities it serves? 
07:14 What do you think Overcoming MS offers to people with MS? 
08:56 What are some of the challenges in your new role at Overcoming MS in terms of continuing the work it does, but also charting a new direction for the future?  
10:16 What opportunities would you like to embrace and explore in your early tenure at OMS? 
14:11 If you were to look ahead, where would you like to see Overcoming MS in a few years’ time? 
14:42 Is there a big difference in running a charity that’s in the MS space against some of the other areas that you’ve worked in before? 
15:49 What are you most excited about in your new role as the Overcoming MS CEO?  
16:17 Can you share something from your life that happened to you that left you thinking, “oh wow, we live in an amazing world”? 
More info and links:
About The Aplastic Anaemia Trust 
About Overcoming 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 here.
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, you can leave a donation here.
Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Coffee Break with community member Trishna Bharadia | S2E18

Welcome to Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome Trishna Bharadia as our guest! Trishna is an award-winning patient advocate who lives with multiple sclerosis and was featured on Strictly Come Dancing. 
Topics and timestamps:
01:41 Can you tell us a little about yourself and your personal experience with MS? 
06:48 What does your work as a health advocate and patient engagement consultant involve? 
12:16 Do you feel there is an inclusivity gap in available health services for people with MS? 
16:12 What are the key issues to focus on to broaden the sense of MS community and support? 
21:21 You were featured on the BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing”. Can you tell us a bit about that show and your experience? 
27:54 As someone with MS, did appearing on “Strictly Come Dancing” represent some sort of milestone? 
More info and links:
Trishna’s LinkedIn
Trishna’s Facebook
Trishna’s Twitter
Trishna’s Instagram
Trishna’s YouTube
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 here.
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, you can leave a donation here.
Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Overcoming MS from a Neurologist's POV with Dr Brandon Beaber | S2E17

Welcome to Living Well with MS podcast. We’re proud to welcome back Dr Brandon Beaber to the guest seat. Dr. Beaber is an American neurologist specialising in multiple sclerosis. He offers a neurologist’s point of view on the Overcoming MS program, and how to achieve better health through lifestyle intervention approaches. 
Topics and timestamps:
01:25 What’s your specific clinical philosophy as a neurologist for treating patients with MS? 
02:00 How important is lifestyle modification in managing your MS? 
06:24 Can you walk us through your thoughts on the main pillars of the Overcoming MS approach? 
30:41 Is there anything critical you think the Overcoming MS program leaves out? 
34:37 Are there any downside risks to following a diet and lifestyle modification program like Overcoming MS? 
38:38 The MS research space is evolving rapidly. What, in your opinion, are the most promising areas on the horizon that we should be monitoring most closely? 
41:00 Dr Beaber’s book on resilience and multiple sclerosis 
More info and links:
Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis (Dr. Beaber’s book)
Dr. Brandon Beaber Medical Profile
Dr. Beaber’s YouTube Review of Prof. Jelinek’s Book, Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis
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 here.
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, you can leave a donation here.
Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Coffee Break with community member Johanna Lahr | S2E16

Welcome to our sixth installment of Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome Johanna Lahr 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:   My name is Johanna Lahr, I live in Berlin, I am married, and I have a daughter. I work as a Senior Product Data Manager in a company in the medical field. I have been living with MS since 2008, with MS being one in a long string of autoimmune diseases. I have been following the OMS program for about 9 years. Today, I look back and even though my journey was very bumpy and at times seemed to be hopeless, I am grateful for the hope the OMS program has given me. It gave me not only the strength and confidence to believe that things could get better even though nobody around me believed it, but more importantly, the OMS program has given me all the tools I need to succeed, not just with MS but with all the other autoimmune conditions I’m contending.   I am actively engaged in several support initiatives. For almost 7 years, I’ve been involved with Overcoming MS Lifestyle Support, a Facebook group dedicated to supporting people with MS following the OMS program. In 2018, I created the first OMS Circle in my city and at work, together with another colleague, I created an employee-driven initiative that strives to build an inclusive workplace and enable access and career opportunities for people with disabilities. These groups not only became a way for me to help others, they have given me the opportunity to meet the most amazing and inspiring people I know.    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, such as your role as Ambassador for the OMS Circle in Berlin. Can you tell us about how that experience has informed your journey? You also run a dynamic support community on Facebook which has over 4,000 members. Can you tell us a little more about that, and the impact you feel this group has had in helping people with MS in Germany? 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:   Overcoming MS Lifestyle Support   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 August 5, 2020, Geoff Allix welcomes back to the podcast guest seat neurologist Dr. Brandon Beaber to get his medical point of view on the benefits of the OMS Recovery Program. If you’d like to understand the medical science behind OMS, this is an episode not to be missed!   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.

Top hacks for getting into a meditation habit with Alison Potts | S2E15

Bio:   Alison teaches Instinctive Meditation, which is natural, healing and life-affirming. Alison is a meditation coach, wellbeing mentor, meditation teacher-trainer writer and teacher in self-care, meditation and wellness.  Originally from Great Britain, she now lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and daughter. Her work is dedicated to teaching practices for greater self-connection, self-worth and thriving, including yoga, meditation and personal coaching.  She runs sessions, workshops and retreats in Australia and overseas and in schools and workplaces. Her guided meditations on Soundcloud and Insight Timer have been listened to over a quarter of a million times. She has trained intensively with Lorin Roche PhD – an author, meditation expert and the leading developer of instinctive meditation in the West – and has a 200 Hour Yoga Alliance certification with Pranava Meditation Teacher-Training. Largely due to her own healing journey with MS, she is passionate about teaching the power of cherishing our individuality and intuition, sharing practices to connection to our innate states of freedom, healing, creativity, spontaneity and joy.   Questions:   Tell us about yourself and your experience having MS and following the OMS program. What is your relationship to meditation? What’s Innate Being? How has your experience with meditation had an impact on your quality of life with MS? What are the main obstacles you find people face in getting into a regular meditation practice? Why are so many people “intimidated” by meditation? Tell us about your top hacks for getting into the meditation groove and making it a healthy habit: Making it personal Finding your natural spontaneous meditation moments Creating a sanctuary for the self Letting your body have the experience Giving your busy mind permission to drift and dream Taking your time Alison conducts a mini guided meditation (5m) Any final words of wisdom or thoughts on embracing a meditation practice?   Links:   Check out Alison’s website, Innate Being Check out Alison’s Facebook page Check out Alison’s Instagram The View from Here: Life Lessons After 24 Years With MS   Coming up next:   Coming up next, travel to Berlin to join OMSer Johanna Lahr to hear her story on Living Well with MS Coffee Break #6, which launches on Monday, July 20.   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 Sean Kressinger | S2E14

Welcome to our fifth installment of Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where straight from Cornwall (UK) we welcome Sean Kressinger 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:   I’m Sean Kressinger and I live in Cornwall, England. I was diagnosed with RRMS 5 years ago though I may well have had it for 25 years. It’s rather prolific in my family, with an aunt, sister and many cousins having it, so the diagnosis wasn’t a complete shock.   I spent the early part of my career as an RSPCA Inspector (animal welfare) in Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, which was enjoyable at times but highly stressful. This is when my first symptoms appeared but were largely ignored. For relaxation I started to paint portraits and do carpentry projects which eventually gave me a reason to leave my stressful job behind and move to Cornwall. I became self-employed, as a gardener at first, painting portraits whenever possible and eventually re-training as a carpenter specializing in furniture. I’m still a carpenter, working around 2/3 full time, though the ability to paint seems to have vanished!   I jumped at the OMS program as soon as I read about it. It seemed logical, evidence-based, extremely well-researched and wasn’t trying to sell me anything! I was already a vegetarian on the whole, so the dietary aspect wasn’t going to be a huge leap, plus I knew I needed to exercise more, and I had an interest in mindfulness/meditation although I hadn’t tried it. It all made sense to me and it was a huge relief that I could help myself with the condition rather than rely purely on the drugs offered.   At the time, OMS was looking for local Ambassadors to form regional Circles and I applied without hesitation. I became the OMS Ambassador for Cornwall and recently the other ambassadors and circle members of Devon and Cornwall joined forces to alleviate any isolation issues amid the Covid-19 lockdown. For me, the OMS Recovery Program is for life now. I’ve been on it long enough to feel the benefits and I’ll continue to promote it whenever I can.   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? Can you tell us a bit about the video “Fighting Multiple Sclerosis” that your daughter Holly made? 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:   Fighting Multiple Sclerosis video   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 July 8, 2020, Geoff Allix digs into the Top Hacks for Getting into a Meditation Habit with meditation coach and wellbeing mentor Alison Potts. And keep an eye out for Coffee Break #6 with Johanna Lahr, coming to you straight from Berlin, Germany on July 20, 2020.   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.

Building community through Overcoming MS Circles with Vickie Hadge | S2E13

Bio:   Vickie serves as an OMS Ambassador in Connecticut. She was officially diagnosed with MS in 2017 but had her first discernible symptoms in 2011. She lives well with her MS by following the OMS program and encourages others to do the same through her OMS Circle.   Vickie has been running her own Virtual Assistant company since 2003 and enjoys working with her global clients. She is active in her community, serving on the board of an education foundation and volunteering at her church on several committees, as well as cooking for and hosting her family and friends. She is deeply committed to helping others: her family, community, clients and her OMS Circle members.   You can see more of Vickie on her YouTube channel, where she shares her thoughts on living well with chronic illness.   Questions:   Please tell our audience a bit about yourself and your MS journey. When did you discover OMS, and what was it like in the early days trying to follow the recovery program? How important a role did your local “community” play, such as your family and close friends, in helping you adopt the OMS recovery program and make progress on your MS journey in general? What were some of the challenges that having a strong support community helped you overcome? What is an OMS Circle and when did you become an OMS Circle Ambassador? Can you tell us a bit about your process in deciding to undertake this community-building role? Can you tell us a little about the OMS Circle you represent? How would you describe the role of an OMS Circle, and specifically your OMS Circle in Connecticut, in helping people new to OMS successfully adapt to the realities of diet and lifestyle changes? How can a sense of community play an important role for people, like yourself, who have lots of experience following the OMS recovery program? Do they need this as much as the newbies might? Are there any anecdotes you can relay that convey the impact you feel you’re making in your corner of the OMS community?   Links:   Vickie’s YouTube Channel Learn more about OMS Circles   Coming up next:   Coming up next, treat yourself to some insight from fellow OMSer Sean Kressinger on Living Well with MS Coffee Break #5, which launches on Monday, June 29, beaming to you straight from the UK.   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 Natalie Cooper | S2E12

Welcome to our fourth installment of Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome Natalie Cooper 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:   Natalie currently lives in Los Gallardos, Spain with her parents, which at 41 is a little embarrassing (by her own admission).  If the world had not been locked down, she would be enjoying the scenery somewhere else in Spain or Portugal or one of the Balearic Islands, in her campervan with her dog.     A few months before her diagnosis, Natalie had decided to sell her house and move to Spain and work online selling travel holidays. A few months after that she woke up one morning with blurred vision and was eventually diagnosed with MS. She was told by many to wait and start medication, so she put everything on hold and did so. That was a really depressing time for her, with everything seeming to go wrong, all her plans cancelled. How could she travel if she needed medications, blood tests, etc., so it seemed like it would never happen.  Then she came across the OMS book and started the program, and after a few months, she was feeling really good and much more positive. So, she stopped her Copaxone treatment and put her travel plans back on track.     Fast forward to last year: Natalie started a 6-month hiatus from her career to hit the road in her motorhome with her dog Mylo.  She saw amazing places and met lovely people. That's when she started her Facebook page, which was a diary of her travels.  It started as something quite personal and grew into a project she began sharing with friends and the wider MS community. In July 2019, while back in the UK, she caught the travel bug again and took the leap of leaving her job of nearly 9 years to come back to Spain in December.  She didn't have any specific plans but was excited about the idea of setting up OMS-friendly holidays. Then COVID-19 arrived and the entire world shut down. But Natalie is not deterred. She will try to relaunch her vision in 2021 and strike a balance between working half the year and hitting the road with Mylo for the other half. If Natalie has learned anything on her journey, it’s to remain flexible, positive and open to all the possibilities in life.   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? 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:   Me, My Dog, a Motorhome and a Midlife Crisis   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 June 17, 2020, join Geoff Allix as he explores Building Community through OMS Circles with Vickie Hadge, Ambassador of the OMS Circle (aka community support group) in Connecticut. Vickie is deeply committed to helping others – her family, community, clients and her OMS Circle members – and her enthusiasm is contagious!   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.

In conversation with Caroline Clarke | S2E11

Bio:   Caroline Clarke was appointed group chief executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust in February 2019, following her role as deputy chief executive over the past seven years.   Caroline was the trust’s chief finance officer between 2011 and 2018 and in 2012 she was made the finance director of the year by the Healthcare Financial Management Association. She was formerly director of strategy at NHS North Central London. Prior to that she was an associate partner in KPMG's health strategy team.   She has spent most of her career in NHS finance, having been director of finance at the Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and City and Hackney Primary Care Trust.   Caroline is a trustee of Overcoming MS and the 2020 President of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), the representative body for finance staff in healthcare.   Links:   About Caroline Clarke About Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust   Coming up next:   Coming up next, treat yourself to a morsel of insight from the OMS community on Living Well with MS Coffee Break #4, which launches on Monday, June 8.   On the next full-length episode of Living Well with MS, launching June 17, 2020, we have the pleasure of welcoming Vickie Hadge, who serves as Ambassador for the OMS Circle in Connecticut. Vickie will tell us all about the importance of building community and the role it plays in helping people with MS find answers, support and hope.   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 Sarah T | S2E10

Welcome to Living Well with MS Coffee Break #3, where we travel to the San Francisco Bay Area to welcome Sarah T 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:   Sarah lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two young children. She has spent 15 years consulting in pharmaceutical and academic health outcomes research, and she is most recently a Director of Research at a health technology company. When she was first diagnosed with MS, she was devastated. She immediately dove into the research on MS, and Dr. Roy Swank’s findings gave her much hope. Sarah adopted the Swank diet along with starting a disease modifying medication. She discovered George Jelinek’s book and OMS in late 2012 and has appreciated its evidence-based and holistic approach to managing the disease. She is currently sheltering in place with her family, and, like many other parents across the world, she is appreciating teachers like never before.   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? 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:   OMS COVID-19 main resource page Excellent COVID-19 resource page from Dr. Gavin Giovannoni   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 May 27, 2020, we have the honor of welcoming Caroline Clarke, Chief Executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, to hear both her personal and professional insights on Overcoming MS.   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.