RealTalk MS

Health & Wellness Podcasts

Jon Strum cuts through all the jargon and breaks down the latest multiple sclerosis news. You’ll meet the scientists who are creating tomorrow’s MS treatments today. You’ll hear from the experts discussing how the latest tweaks and changes to our healthcare laws will impact your MS treatment. And we’ll be talking to the courageous MS warriors who are out there advocating on behalf of the MS community every day, as well as the men and women who are committed to living their best lives with MS and living their best lives as MS caregivers. If you're dealing with multiple sclerosis in your life -- as a patient, caregiver, family member, or friend -- join us each week for RealTalk MS.

Jon Strum cuts through all the jargon and breaks down the latest multiple sclerosis news. You’ll meet the scientists who are creating tomorrow’s MS treatments today. You’ll hear from the experts discussing how the latest tweaks and changes to our healthcare laws will impact your MS treatment. And we’ll be talking to the courageous MS warriors who are out there advocating on behalf of the MS community every day, as well as the men and women who are committed to living their best lives with MS and living their best lives as MS caregivers. If you're dealing with multiple sclerosis in your life -- as a patient, caregiver, family member, or friend -- join us each week for RealTalk MS.

Location:

United States

Genres:

Health & Wellness Podcasts

Science Podcasts

Description:

Twitter:

@RealTalkMS_jon

Language:

English

Contact:

310-961-4954

Website:

http://www.realtalkms.com/

Episodes

Episode 246: The High Cost of MS Medications with Steffany Stern

5/16/2022

When my wife was diagnosed with MS in 1997, the annual cost of her MS medication was $9,000. Today, the annual cost of that same medication is $110,000. We cannot allow the insanity associated with the cost of MS medications to continue. Joining me to discuss the impact of the outrageously high cost of MS medications -- and what each of us can do about it -- is the National MS Society's Vice-President of Advocacy, Steffany Stern. We're also talking about a Phase 1 clinical trial for an...

Duration:00:33:37

Episode 245: The Journey to an MS Diagnosis with Dr. Michael Robers

5/9/2022

For some, the journey to their MS diagnosis is relatively quick and straightforward. For others, it can be lengthy and convoluted, sometimes taking years. Joining me to talk about some of the twists and turns that can pop up on the road to being diagnosed with MS is Dr. Michael Robers, a neurologist in the Multiple Sclerosis Program and an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute. We're also talking about a study that measured MS prevalence...

Duration:00:32:50

Episode 244: Financial Planning For People Living with MS with Financial Advisor Dick Bell

5/2/2022

Planning for your financial future is good advice for everyone. But when you're living with MS, financial planning is an important part of the game plan for living your best life. Joining me to talk about the things you'll want to keep in mind as you develop your personal financial roadmap is Dick Bell, a professional financial advisor who has worked with more than 600 clients who are living with MS. We're also talking about how Russia's invasion of Ukraine is impacting MS clinical...

Duration:00:29:34

Episode 243: The Economic Burden of MS with Dr. Bruce Bebo and Bari Talente

4/25/2022

Living with MS is expensive. And if you're curious about how expensive living with MS is, why it's so expensive, and what can be done about it, then you're going to be interested in the results of a study that was commissioned by the National MS Society. Joining me to talk about what this study revealed and what it means to individuals and families affected by MS are Dr. Bruce Bebo, the Executive Vice-President of Research at the National MS Society, and the MS Society's Executive...

Duration:00:30:35

Episode 242: No Masks or Proof of Vax? Staying Safe in the Next Normal If You're Living with MS with Dr. Nancy Sicotte

4/18/2022

Mask mandates have mostly ended, and bars, restaurants, public buildings, and other businesses no longer require proof of vaccination. It looks like the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Except for the fact that we're seeing cases of the latest COVID subvariant continue to rise in cities across the country and around the world. So, how do we navigate this post-pandemic world? And if you happen to be immunocompromised, how do you stay safe? Joining me as she has throughout the pandemic, with an...

Duration:00:33:58

Episode 241: American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting Recap with Prof. Xavier Montalban

4/11/2022

I spent last week attending the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting and in this week's episode of RealTalk MS, I'm sharing an overview of what I saw and what I heard. Each year at the AAN meeting, the American Academy of Neurology and the National MS Society award the John Dystel Prize for MS Research. Joining me on today's podcast is this year's recipient of the Dystel Prize, Professor Xavier Montalban. We're also talking about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected MS...

Duration:00:26:22

Episode 240: Hypnosis and MS with Dr. Mark Jensen

4/4/2022

Research has shown that hypnosis is an effective treatment for managing chronic pain, including pain associated with MS. My guest, Dr. Mark Jensen, is a Professor and Vice-Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington. Dr. Jensen has devoted his career to developing effective treatments for pain and is an expert on hypnotic interventions. We're also talking about a research team that may have learned how to successfully penetrate the blood-brain...

Duration:00:32:47

Episode 239: New Research Goals Set by the International Progressive MS Alliance with Dr. Robert Fox

3/28/2022

A decade ago, the International Progressive MS Alliance didn't exist. Today, it can be credited with changing the global conversation about progressive MS research, elevating the progressive MS research agenda and moving the work forward. A few weeks ago, the Alliance announced the details of an ambitious strategic plan that will guide their work over the next 3 years. Joining me to talk about the new goals that were set by the Alliance, and what that means for people affected by...

Duration:00:29:35

Episode 238: The Pathways to Cures Research Roadmap with Dr. Carol Whitacre and Prof. Alan Thompson

3/21/2022

The Pathways to Cures initiative is focused on stopping MS progression, restoring lost function, and ending MS forever. This bold initiative has already been endorsed by more than 20 MS research and patient organizations around the world. And now, the publication of the Pathways to Cures Research Roadmap has brought us to a pivotal moment in the history of MS research. Joining me in this episode of RealTalk MS are two very special guests, Dr. Carol Whitacre and Professor Alan Thompson....

Duration:00:35:24

Episode 237: Raising MS Awareness with Marti Hines

3/14/2022

It's MS Awareness Week and my guest is Marti Hines. Marti is a successful event producer, entrepreneur, film producer, and director. She was diagnosed with MS in 2018, and Marti has been very transparent in sharing the highs and lows of her MS journey on her social channels. Like so many people living with MS, Marti has an amazing energy and a seemingly endless supply of resilience. You're going to enjoy meeting her. We're also talking about why increasing diversity in clinical trials is...

Duration:00:27:42

Episode 236: How MS Affects Mind, Mood, and Memory with Dr. Anthony Feinstein

3/7/2022

If you're living with MS, there's a good chance that, at some point, you're going to deal with depression, cognitive issues, or both of these common MS symptoms. We're taking a deep dive into how these symptoms can impact your everyday life at home and at work with the author of Mind, Mood, and Memory: The Neurobehavioral Consequences of Multiple Sclerosis, Dr. Anthony Feinstein. We're also highlighting some of the MS research that was presented two weeks ago at the ACTRIMS Forum, the...

Duration:00:30:03

Episode 235: National MS Society Public Policy Conference Preview with Bari Talente

2/28/2022

I've always believed that the things people affected by MS want most -- things like access to quality healthcare, affordable prescription medications, and funding for MS research -- are all functions of public policy. The people who decide whether we get those things are our elected officials at both the state and federal level. That's why advocacy is a priority. The National MS Society's Public Policy Conference is taking place on March 7th. Joining me with a preview of what we can...

Duration:00:28:59

Episode 234: Managing Your Emotional Health As COVID-19 Becomes Endemic with Dr. Meghan Beier and Emily Reilly

2/21/2022

Many of our local, state, and national leaders seem to be declaring that the pandemic has ended and it's back to business as usual. But if you're living with MS, how comfortable are you with the idea of being out in a world where everyone isn't fully vaccinated, and mask mandates have been cancelled? Dr. Meghan Beier and Emily Reilly join me to discuss how to manage your fear and anxiety, build resilience, and deal with the emotional impact of living life in a world where COVID-19 is...

Duration:00:32:39

Episode 233: COVID-19: Going from Pandemic to Endemic When You're Living with MS with Dr. Nancy Sicotte

2/14/2022

With hospital rates starting to decline and mask mandates being lifted in several states there seems to be a general sense that we're seeing COVID-19 becoming an endemic virus. And we have to wonder what that means for people living with MS. Dr. Nancy Sicotte joins me to talk about the preventative treatments for COVID-19 that are available today for people who are living with MS, the importance of receiving 4 doses of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines if you're living with MS, and some of the...

Duration:00:35:53

Episode 232: Managing MS and Comorbidities with Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie

2/7/2022

Research shows that about 50% of the people living with MS will develop another chronic health condition, or comorbidity, in their lifetime. Whether it's high blood pressure, diabetes, or something else, living with comorbid conditions adds extra challenges to living with MS. Joining me to discuss how comorbidities affect people living with MS and what you can do to avoid developing some of those comorbidities is one of the leading experts on the subject, Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie. We're also...

Duration:00:29:41

Episode 231: Evidence Shows EBV Triggers MS -- Understanding the Impact of This Breakthrough Research with Dr. Bruce Bebo

1/31/2022

Now that Harvard researchers have presented compelling evidence that MS is triggered by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), what does it mean in terms of ending MS in the world? What does it mean for people already living with MS? And how will this announcement impact MS research? Joining me to unpack the details and implications of this research breakthrough is the Executive Vice-President of Research for the National MS Society, Dr. Bruce Bebo. We're also talking about new research from...

Duration:00:30:09

Episode 230: Managing MS Fatigue with Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch

1/24/2022

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of MS. It just gets in the way of fully engaging in life, making fatigue one of the most bothersome symptoms of MS. And because MS fatigue is one of the main causes of early withdrawal from the workforce, fatigue is an MS symptom that can impose a hefty financial penalty on a household. Joining me to talk about managing and even reducing MS fatigue is Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch, a neuropsychologist at the Mandell Center for Multiple Sclerosis in...

Duration:00:29:00

Bonus Episode: MS In the 21st Century -- Challenges of Communicating About MS Progression With Your Healthcare Provider

1/19/2022

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and MS in the 21st Century. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, we're talking with Pieter van Galen and Amanda Montague about that sometimes-challenging conversation with your healthcare provider about MS progression. We're also highlighting My MS Roadmap, a free tool designed to make conversations with your healthcare provider easier by offering clear and easy to understand definitions of the complex language used to...

Duration:00:13:31

Episode 229: Evidence Shows MS is Triggered by the Epstein-Barr Virus with Dr. Kassandra Munger and Dr. AJ Joshi

1/17/2022

Last week, a research team at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health presented compelling evidence that the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) triggers multiple sclerosis. So, we're taking a deep dive into the role of EBV and MS. We'll review the breakthrough results of this research and we'll re-share our conversation with one of the researchers in this game-changing study. We'll review the status of an experimental cell therapy that's designed to remove the EBV virus from infected b-cells...

Duration:00:31:38

Bonus Episode: MS in the 21st Century --The Impact of Cognitive Symptoms on Patient Engagement with Care with Dr. Sarah Morrow and Paola Kruger

1/12/2022

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and MS in the 21st Century. Cognitive impairment affects more than 50% of the people living with MS. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, we're talking with Dr. Sarah Morrow and Paola Kruger about how people living with MS can work together with their healthcare providers to develop a constructive dialogue about cognition and MS. Dr. Sarah Morrow is an Associate Professor of Neurology in the Department of Clinical...

Duration:00:14:22