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

Welcome to the Living Well with MS podcast, where we are joined by Rachel Changer. Rachel is a Pilates instructor and neurological physiotherapist with a master’s diploma in neurological rehabilitation. 
Topics and timestamps:
01:05 Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your experience working with people with MS? 
03:03 What is Pilates? And what are the differences between Pilates and other practices? 
08:49 What are the benefits of Pilates for people with MS? 
13:11 What are the downsides? 
14:17 How do you choose the right Pilates instructor or class? Can you do it on your own? 
17:17 How can you modify Pilates for all levels of ability? 
20:23 Does Pilates work as an online activity? Can you do it without much equipment? 
29:35 Do you have any other thoughts to encourage or inspire people for their fitness and exercise regime for people with MS? 
32:04 When following an exercise regime, when do you think that you should also check in with a medical provider, if you’ve got any symptoms that might be exercise related? 
34:32 Can you share a final thought with our audience on what motivates or inspires you as a human being?  
More info and links:
Learn more about the Neuro Academy 
Learn more about the Bridges Self-Management Programme 
Read this blog from Overcoming MSer Sarah Johnson about her experience with Pilates 
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 Alex Storey | S2E28

Welcome to the Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome Alexandra Storey as our guest! Alex lives with relapsing MS and is a fundraiser for the Overcoming MS charity.  
Topics and timestamps:
01:20 Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your life?  
01:58 When were you diagnosed with MS and how long have you been following the Overcoming MS Program?  
10:14 Can you share a little about your culinary pastime, what it means to you, how it’s helped with MS and Overcoming MS? 
15:48 How else have you had to adapt your daily healthy habits to the new realities imposed by Covid-19?  
20:29 What are the reasons you’re helping drive giving to Overcoming MS for Giving Tuesday? 
21:42 Do you have any other tips or tricks you can share with our audience that might help them on their own health journeys?  
More info and links:
View Alex’s Giving Tuesday video 
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.

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

Welcome to the Living Well with MS podcast, where we are joined by Helen Rees Leahy. Helen lives with Primary Progressive MS and follows the Overcoming MS Program.  
Topics and timestamps:
01:47 Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you’re from, and what you do? 
03:37 When were you diagnosed with MS and how did you initially handle it? 
07:49 Can you shed some light on what PPMS is and what life is like with that specific type of MS? 
09:58 When did you discover Overcoming MS and decide to follow the program? 
15:47 How does the Overcoming MS program fit into the realities of someone with PPMS? 
18:48 What are the biggest obstacles to someone with PPMS adopting the program? 
31:41 In your own experience with both PPMS and Overcoming MS, how do you measure progress? 
35:25 How does weaving integrate with your lifestyle and affect you? 
41:38 As someone with PPMS, what can you share with others that have PPMS that motivates or inspires you?
More info and links:
Follow Helen on Instagram 
Learn more about Feldenkrais in the UK and globally 
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 Bron Webster | S2E26

Welcome to the Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome fellow podcast host and producer Bron Webster as our guest! Bron was diagnosed with MS in 1996 and works as a patient advocate. 
Topics and timestamps:
01:28 Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your life? 
02:16 Can you describe your MS journey? 
04:41 What do you feel has made the biggest positive impact to your MS symptoms? 
06:55 What is your greatest challenge with MS? And how did you overcome that? 
09:16 I know you’re quite active in the MS community. Can you tell us how being part of this community has helped your journey? 
15:28 How have you had to adapt your daily habits to match the realities imposed by COVID-19? 
16:59 Do you have any other tips or tricks that you could share with our audience that might help them on their MS journeys?  
 
More info and links:
Listen to Bron’s podcast, The MS Show 
Visit Bron’s website, Multiple Success 
Join Bron’s Facebook group 
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.

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

Welcome the Living Well with MS podcast, and we are joined by Erika North. Erika was diagnosed with MS in 2008 and is now happy to put a spotlight on the trials and tribulations her condition brings, with a trademark sense of humor listeners of the BBC will be familiar with! 
Topics and timestamps:
01:52 Could you tell us a bit about yourself? 
03:10 Can you tell us a bit about your own MS journey when you started to have symptoms and diagnosis? 
10:09 How does an MS diagnosis affect someone in a public-facing role?  
21:22 How is the public impression of MS changing?  
26:25 How did you discover the program and how have you found adapting your lifestyle to Overcoming MS? 
33:06 Do you think Overcoming MS is a healthy lifestyle for all? 
37:11 Do you think COVID-19 has affected how you can live healthily and affected getting hold of healthy food? 
More info and links:
Visit Erika’s Twitter 
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 Roy Bartlett | S2E24

Welcome to the Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome Roy Bartlett as our guest! Roy is the ambassador of the Aukland, New Zeland circle and has lived with MS since 1988.  
Topics and timestamps:
01:16 Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your life? 
03:30 When were you diagnosed with MS and how long have you been following the Overcoming MS Program? 
14:47 What is your favorite thing about the program? 
16:25 What was your greatest challenge in adopting the Overcoming MS program, and how did you overcome it? 
18:45 I know you’re quite active in the Overcoming MS 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? 
19:42 How have you had to adapt your daily healthy habits to the new realities imposed by COVID-19? 
23:22 Do you have any other tips or tricks you can share with our audience that might help them on their journeys? 
More info and links:
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.

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

Welcome to the Living Well with MS podcast, where we are joined by Jack McNulty. Jack has followed the Overcoming MS lifestyle since 2009. He has actively worked on providing recipes and information to the Overcoming MS website and was the contributing editor to the Overcoming MS cookbook. Jack is currently operating his own subscription-based website providing instruction and recipes supporting a vegan life. 
Topics and timestamps:
02:50 Are all oils bad, or are there some beneficial and healthy ones? 
12:13 Is it okay to heat oils when cooking? 
15:37 Is it okay then to cook using flaxseed oil? 
19:10 Is it true that you should never bake higher than 180°C (350°F) if you are using oil? 
29:18 There are many recipes that call for fried veggies, such as onions. How do you substitute this with a healthier alternative? 
34:33 Why do use extra virgin olive oil? Can we use any olive oil are they effectively the same thing? 
42:14 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? 
44:10 What can I use instead of butter for baking? 
More info and links:
Visit Jack’s Instagram and Facebook for inspiration 
Visit Jack’s 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 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 Rowan Baker | S2E22

Welcome to Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome Rowan Baker as our guest! Rowan is a UK-based nurse who follows the Overcoming MS Program. She enjoys yoga and running, crafting and cooking up Overcoming MS 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 Overcoming MS. 
Topics and timestamps:
01:15 Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your life? 
02:17 When were you diagnosed with MS and how long have you been following the Overcoming MS Program? 
03:05 What is your favorite thing about the program? 
05:18 What was your greatest challenge in adopting the Overcoming MS program? 
07:33 Can you tell us a bit about being part of the Overcoming MS community and how that’s changed your journey? 
08:36 You also work for the NHS. Can you share a perspective on how that interconnect with your MS and experiences with Overcoming MS? 
10:45 How have you had to adapt your daily healthy habits to the new realities imposed by COVID-19? 
12:55 Do you have any other tips or tricks you can share with our audience that might help them on their journeys? 
More info and links:
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.