MS.UNDERSTOOD

Do you struggle with MS Heat Sensitivity? Does it limit what you can do in your life? Do you miss activities you used to engage in because you’re currently limited by temperature, humidity, or related fatigue? In this episode, we’re joined by Stanford Biodesign Engineer Candice Otrembiak. Take a listen to get to know Candice and the incredible work she is doing to engineer real MS Heat Sensitivity solutions for us. You’ll also learn about Candice’s active survey where WE can help by sharing our personal experiences with MS Heat Sensitivity. Candice knows that developing a device for real people requires real input from folks in our community. This is a great opportunity for all of us who struggle with Heat Sensitivity to get involved and be part of the solution! Listen in to learn more! Candice’s Biodesign Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYU9tYZNuowF-zHQNfYk7Ij7ZkMEX0HJdzqm9fN0JY-urUbg/viewform?usp=publish-editor patreon.com/MSFlock

Do you experience joy every day? For many of us in the MS Community, joy can feel elusive. In this episode, we address the importance of experiencing joy in our lives. We’ll explore the impacts that experiencing joy has on our physical and mental health. While the natural ebb and flow of life occasionally brings us joyful experiences, there are ways that we can deliberately cultivate daily joy so that we can experience it more often and reap the benefits. I’ll share my personal reflections on my own struggles to experience joy in the decade since my official MS diagnosis, as well as the plan I created for myself to deliberately cultivate more joy in my life on a daily basis this year. Listen in to learn more about my Joyride in 2026 - and potentially inspire your own!! patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we explore how navigating life living with Multiple Sclerosis and rebuilding a life we love after diagnosis is similar to a bathroom remodel. We’ll look at the many parallels between a real life remodel in action and how we can similarly examine our own lives to find aspects that would greatly benefit from a thoughtful and deliberate remodel. We’ll talk through the phases of a remodel - the Dream Design, Hiring the Right Construction Team, Diving into Demolition, Navigating the Unexpected, and finally, Reconstruction - Building the New. I hope this episode results in a future remodeling or renovation project of your own - either literal, figurative, or both! patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we explore the opportunities of the season and the many ways we can plant seeds as investments in our future happiness. We’ll talk about the three main pillars of personal investment opportunities - 1) our physical and mental health, 2) our relationships, and 3) our sense of purpose and personal growth. In each area, we’ll look at very small seeds that are quite manageable, some in a minute or less (!), that when cultivated over time, can drastically increase our level of future happiness, our ability to access joy, and to build our sense of belonging. All of these seeds will help support us in our efforts to live well with Multiple Sclerosis. Lots in life is out of our control, but we CAN always plant seeds of something new! I’ll share some examples of seeds I’m planting - literally and figuratively! Listen in to learn more and to decide what seeds of personal investment you might like to plant for yourself in your garden of life this fall! patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Teri Jaklin ND. Take a listen to get to know Dr Teri, her lived experience with Multiple Sclerosis, and her practice as an ND (Naturopathic Doctor). In early September, Dr. Teri is launching a new supportive learning and healing community called the MS Collective. This opportunity offers mentorship, community of likeminded folks, and a new path forward for healing and transformation. This is a great opportunity for folks who feel like they’ve tried it all and have yet to move the needle on their health in the ways they desire. As someone who has lived with MS for 40 years and guided others through the journey for 25 years, Dr Teri’s MS Collective is a trusted guide for us and also provides a safe space for true connection. I hope you’ll consider joining me in this exciting opportunity! Listen in to learn more! patreon.com/MSFlock https://www.transform.ms/ms-collective

It’s summer in North America, and heat sensitivity is a current topic on pretty much every MS site on social media. Do you struggle with MS heat sensitivity? Do your symptoms flare when you overdo it? Do you find yourself less able to safely spend time outdoors? Do you retreat from socializing or other favorite activities because of the heat? Does that negatively impact your mood and mental health? If any of these questions resonate with you, this episode is for you. In this episode we’ll learn about how MS impacts our body’s ability to withstand hot and cold temperatures, ways we can safely mitigate the heat and cold sensitivity symptoms we experience, as well as explore ways we can deliberately better acclimatize to heat and cold to expand our current temperature comfort zone. We’ll also talk about why we are approaching the BEST time of year to start training our bodies to better manage the heat of next summer (!) as well as share an example of an acclimatization plan that you can use to create your own. Take a listen - it just might change everything for you and help you better live a life you love! patreon.com/MSFlock

Have you ever really wanted to do something but just couldn’t find it in you to take any action - no matter how hard you tried? Or have you lost the ability to experience joy, even when doing something you used to love? In this episode, we look at why it can be so incredibly difficult to take positive action when living with Multiple Sclerosis. Nope, we’re not lazy! And nope, we don’t deserve to feel shame because of our inability to act. Apathy, and its cousin, anhedonia, are very real struggles, and in this episode we’ll look at what these terms mean, how they manifest, as well as suggested ways to move the needle to a much better place on these limiting and often quite depressing symptoms. Take a listen - it just might change everything for you and help you better live a life you love! patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we look at all the ways we need water to help keep our body functioning! We’ll take a deep dive into Your Body’s Many Cries for Water by Dr. Batmanghelidj, as well as what current critics have to say about his stance, and even use Google Gemini AI to learn even more about all the ways our body uses water to survive and thrive! We’ll look at specific MS symptoms that may be a result of - or worsened by - dehydration, and talk about how to safely increase our water intake, which is not as simple, nor as safe, as it sounds! I’ll share a little about my personal experience with increasing my water intake, too! Take a listen to learn more about water, and explore what’s possible for you!! patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we look at all the ways we need water to help keep our body functioning! We’ll take a deep dive into Your Body’s Many Cries for Water by Dr. Batmanghelidj, as well as what current critics have to say about his stance, and even use Google Gemini AI to learn even more about all the ways our body uses water to survive and thrive! We’ll look at specific MS symptoms that may be a result of - or worsened by - dehydration, and talk about how to safely increase our water intake, which is not as simple, nor as safe, as it sounds! I’ll share a little about my personal experience with increasing my water intake, too! Take a listen to learn more about water, and explore what’s possible for you!! patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Susan Payrovi. Together, we’ll explore the healing power of dance - and specifically, utilizing dance as a healing tool for depression. We’ll review a recent article sharing a comprehensive study about depression, and take a deep dive into the results to learn about the effectiveness of dance and a handful of other exercise types. We’ll also compare those with the results of using SSRI’s, the standard pharmaceutical family of medications prescribed to treat depression. Tune in to learn the history behind Dr. Payrovi’s virtual dance studio creation - The Myelin Room - and receive a personal invitation from Dr. Payrovi to attend her next virtual Myelin Room experience next month. DrSusanPayrovi.com for more information and to sign up! Take a listen and explore what’s possible for you!! patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we’ll explore how receiving a diagnosis of MS can be a life changing event and invoke in us a state of crisis. We can become overwhelmed with anxiety, stagnant in our personal growth, withdraw into deep depression, or experience apathy, where accessing joy and moving forward with living a life we love feels unattainable. We can also experience a deterioration in our ability to maintain a growth mindset to remain oriented towards what’s possible in terms of healing. We might give up and give in, and enter a spiral into lower frequency emotions and a cascade of ability losses. In this episode, we’ll learn about a powerful tool from two UNC psychology experts called the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory that we can use to better evaluate and celebrate the ways we’ve transformed post diagnosis, as well as illuminate potential pathways we might explore to achieve further growth, enlightenment, and healing. Take a listen and explore what’s possible for you!! patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we’ll explore how MS is truly for the Birds! We’ll examine different meanings of this phrase to explore ways we might choose to live well with Multiple Sclerosis and better navigate the challenges we face. We’ll learn a bit about how geese in particular utilize teamwork, shared leadership, empathy, presence, movement, and encouragement - and once and for all, understand why there’s the sound of geese honking in every episode! We’ll also spend some time expressing our gratitude for a special friend and flock member as we remember and celebrate all the ways they enriched our lives. patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we explore the opportunity a New Year provides to reflect on our lives and decide what we would most like to accomplish next. When we live with a chronic and progressive health condition like Multiple Sclerosis, it’s easy to get stuck in a place of overwhelm or analysis paralysis. Sometimes we perceive that there’s SO much to do that we end up doing nothing. And sadly nothing changes if nothing changes. In this episode, we’ll talk about how our bodies are wired for healing when given the right conditions. I’ll share a specific MS symptom goal I had two years ago, and walk you through the steps I took and the resources I used to get myself to a dramatically different place that improved my quality of life significantly. Do you have a particularly frustrating aspect of living with MS that is holding you back that you’d like to change? Take a listen, then reach out and let’s swap story and collaborate in our search for possibilities. We can do this! TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More. patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we explore the emerging research for using Red Light Therapy (RLT) as a complementary therapy to help manage a variety of common MS symptoms, including fatigue, acute pain, muscle spasticity, gut dysbiosis, sleep disturbances, troublesome skin conditions, neuropathy, stress management, mood disorders, and much much more! We’ll learn how RLT works, the potential risks involved, what to consider when searching for the right device for our unique needs, and what we can expect from utilizing Red Light Therapy (RLT) as an MS symptom alleviation tool. patreon.com/MSFlock

In this episode, we are joined by culinary allergen expert Carmen Lucia. We’ll learn about Carmen’s lived experience with Multiple Sclerosis, as well as her impressive culinary career and recently published book Allergy - Menus, Recipes, & Techniques, available online through Amazon and Barnes & Nobles. We’ll also learn a bit about general food allergies and sensitivities, how these manifest as symptoms in our bodies, and why this is especially important for people living with MS. We’ll also explore the best ways to identify our own unique food allergies and sensitivities….so we can heal. patreon.com/MSFlock

EPISODE 88 - Use the Difficulty In this short yet empowering episode, we look in depth at the concept of “Using the Difficulty.” We’ll learn how to face hardships in new ways: how to accept or convert the hardships that we experience into beautiful gifts, why it’s a powerful approach to abstain from judging an experience as good or bad, and how to prevent ourselves from placing perceived internal limits on our potential. We’ll also learn a bit about the Paralympic Games, happening now - and what we all can glean from these tremendous athletes who have certainly learned to Use the Difficulty. Take a listen - it might just change your life! patreon.com/MSFlock

Everything is energy. We are energy. And did you know that clues to our current levels of physical and emotional health and wellness are embedded in the energetic frequencies present in our voice? Join me today, where we’ll chat with Samaya (Traci) Hill to learn all about the AO Inner Voice scan technology and how we can utilize this amazing tool to gain insights into current areas of imbalance in our lives. We can use this data to identify and explore aligned pathways to healing - all based on the unique frequencies present in our voice! We’ll also learn more about the amazing human Samaya (Traci) Hill is, and how she has used the AO Inner Voice scan (as well as many other healing modalities!) to heal from her symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis over the years. Listen in, and learn how YOU can learn more about your unique opportunities for healing with a free AO Inner Voice scan. To contact Samaya (Traci) Hill: www.consciousevolution.coach or shop.solexnation.com/traci To participate in the MS Study, contact Kelly Scott of the Chronic Conditions Research Fund Kelly@CCRFund.org patreon.com/MSFlock

Do you live with Multiple Sclerosis and want to heal but don’t know how - or are looking for some inspiration or motivation to get you started? Join me today for a conversation with Mindset Coach Matt Rowe about how he lives well with MS. He’ll share his own story of personal growth, the power of mindset, and we’ll also learn about his upcoming 3rd Annual Symptom Free MS Summit! This FREE virtual event June 17th-29th features over 25 experts well-versed in healing a variety of MS symptoms. We’ll learn how to reduce inflammation, regain mobility, improve our quality of life through mindset, and much much more! All who attend will have access to additional free gifts such as resource guides, books, recipes, and coaching sessions. To register for this FREE event: https://www.symptomfreems.com/2024-symptom-free-ms-summit IdentityOfHealth.com patreon.com/MSFlock

Did you know that experiencing Awe can positively impact both our physical and mental health? Join me today to explore the healing power of Awe. I’ll share information from a recent read: AWE - The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner, and also share a bit about an Awe-inspiring experience I had this past weekend. We’ll talk about what feeling Awe is like, and the power of revisiting and sharing our past experiences of Awe. We’ll learn about the impact Awe has on both our physical and mental health, the eight different pathways we can explore to experience Awe, and several powerful ways we can intentionally create more daily and collective Awe in our lives. Take a listen! patreon.com/MSFlock

Do you have symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis that you’d like to alleviate but you don’t know how? In this episode, we’ll look at research-based solutions to address pain, fatigue, the stress-disease connection, and powerful lifestyle medicine - as well as learn about some recent & upcoming transformative learning opportunities available to all of us on a variety of helpful topics. We’ll also explore some of my additional recent learnings about a variety of health-related topics of interest that can help us maximize our health and happiness so that we’re living a life we truly love. Living well with MS is possible! patreon.com/MSFlock