Originally broadcast in 2020, this episode has been edited to remove out-of-date content and reuploaded in 2026 to ensure it remains relevant and useful. 

In this episode of the Living Well with MS podcast, and we are pleased to welcome Dr Aaron Boster, an Ohio-based board-certified clinical neuroimmunologist specializing in MS. Given we are surrounded by temptations – from that delicious pint of ice cream to the lure of sleeping in instead of hitting the gym – we are happy to tap his expertise to help us understand how lifestyle choices impact MS and our overall health. 

How does gut health affect MS – and what role can diet really play in supporting the immune system? In this episode of Living Well with MS, Geoff is joined by Overcoming MS Program Facilitator Karen Lee – retired intensive care nurse, nutritionist, author and recipe developer. Karen shares her MS journey and explains, in clear and accessible terms, how gut health, inflammation and diet are connected in autoimmune conditions such as MS.

They explore dysbiosis and “leaky gut”, why fibre and the microbiome matter, and how whole-food plant-based eating fits within the Overcoming MS dietary recommendations. Karen also talks about her new book Healing from the Inside Out and shares practical, fatigue-friendly tips for eating more plants – without overwhelm.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.

00:56 Welcome and introduction to Karen

01:49 Karen’s MS journey: diagnosis, optic neuritis and early changes

04:46 From intensive care nursing to nutrition, writing and teaching

09:32 Understanding the Overcoming MS diet recommendations

10:36 Why diet matters for immune health: nutrients, fats, fibre and the microbiome

17:57 Dysbiosis explained – and how it relates to autoimmunity and MS

22:02 “Leaky gut”: what it means and why inflammation matters

23:16 Inside Karen’s new book Healing from the Inside Out

26:46 How whole plant foods support overall health

29:50 Protein and plant-based diets: common concerns addressed

31:39 Practical tips for eating more plants and increasing variety

37:58 Favourite recipes, sauces and simple ways to add flavour

39:41 Batch cooking and freezing for low-energy days

41:26 Running the Taunton Half Marathon and fundraising for Overcoming MS

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Host Geoff Allix speaks with Caroline Clarke, Chief Executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and former trustee of Overcoming MS, about her MS journey, why she chose to follow the Overcoming MS Program, and the practical habits that help her manage stress while working in a high-pressure role. 

This episode of Living Well with MS was recorded at Living Well Live, Overcoming MS’s one-day event held at the University of Warwick in November 2025, with people joining both in person and online. Host Geoff Allix shares conversations with community members, speakers and guests from across the MS sector, exploring what’s new in MS lifestyle research and the practical tools people are using to live well with MS.

You’ll hear about the evolving evidence behind the Overcoming MS Program, why personalised approaches matter (including vitamin D), and the role of community connection in building confidence after diagnosis. Together, these conversations capture what makes Overcoming MS so powerful: the combination of evidence-based guidance and genuine community support. You’ll also hear how donations help fund trusted information, courses and spaces where people with MS – and those around them – can feel informed, connected and empowered.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.

00:00 Geoff Allix introduces the event and Overcoming MS

03:07 Linda Bloom & Alex Holden on the origins of Overcoming MS, community and purpose

11:21 Dr Jonathan White on MS research, treatment and the role of lifestyle medicine

12:44 Lina Nielsen on elite sport, MS and training at Olympic level

14:51 Lina Nielsen on exercise, mindfulness and neuroplasticity

17:00 Tessa Miles on resilience, preparation and the power of community

22:09 Dr Rachel Hunter on the nervous system, stress and self-management

24:12 Dr Rachel Hunter on how MS self-management has evolved

28:19 Community member Maureen Haith on her top takeaways from the day

33:25 Miriam Jordan Keane on how Overcoming MS is evolving

37:56 Neil Stanley on sleep, MS and practical tips for better rest

43:22 Rabiah Coon on laughter, mental health and coping with MS

49:19 Amy Thompson from MS Together on supporting young adults living with MS

50:54 Holistic MS care – combining medication, lifestyle and community

55:13 Advice for newly diagnosed people with MS – reassurance and practical guidance

57:48 Dominic Shadbolt,The MS Guide, on AI, innovation and the future of MS care

59:43 Eleanor Bate, Shift.MS, on peer-led community support and connection

01:06:31 Sarah-Jane Elliot, MS-UK on accessing support, resources and online activities

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In this episode of Living Well with MS, Alex Holden (Chief Executive of Overcoming MS) is joined by Rachel Johnson, Overcoming MS’s Information and Research Manager, and Dr Jonathan White, the charity’s Medical Advisor and Program Facilitator. Together they explore what the latest evidence says about lifestyle and self-management in MS – and why it’s an increasingly exciting time for MS research and treatment. They also share what Overcoming MS is working on in 2026, including improved evaluation of our programmes, new symptom-focused resources, and progress towards achieving the PIF TICK quality mark for trusted health information. 

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio. 

01:56 Meet Rachel Johnson: background in psychology, research methods and why she joined Overcoming MS 

04:04 Jonny’s role and why sharing research clearly (and credibly) matters 

05:33 Rachel’s priorities: improving information quality and evaluating impact 

07:16 Supporting healthcare professionals to signpost trusted lifestyle resources 

09:06 What’s coming up in 2026: evaluation findings, information strategy and symptom-based resources 

11:05 Jonny’s 2026 highlights: Pathways, retreats and the BSLM lifestyle medicine module 

14:24 How the Overcoming MS programme aligns with the latest lifestyle research 

16:57 Making the programme practical: diet quality, Mediterranean-style eating and “big picture” habits 

18:54 Talking to your MS team about lifestyle: confidence, language, and keeping your agenda clear 

23:05 Why robust evaluation matters: pre-post surveys, validated measures and long-term follow-up 

27:31 Getting involved in research: MS Register, university studies and opportunities shared via the Hub 

31:41 What is PIF TICK and why it matters for trustworthy MS lifestyle information 

36:04 What’s exciting in MS research right now: treatments, progressive MS, and novel therapies 

40:13 Why credibility and clear communication are key to shifting the “no evidence” narrative 

If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

In this episode of Living Well with MS, we’re joined by Juliet Delattre, a language teacher and digital nomad from the Netherlands who was diagnosed with MS in 2019. 

 Juliet shares the shock of being diagnosed after relatively mild symptoms, and what it was like searching for answers, navigating uncertainty, and deciding who to tell. We also talk about the role of lifestyle alongside medical care, how Juliet experimented with different approaches over time, and why she ultimately chose to follow the Overcoming MS Program. 

 Juliet speaks honestly about stress, study, travel and bereavement – and offers a compassionate reminder that there’s no single “perfect” way to live well with MS, only the approach that’s sustainable for you. 

 Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the topics and timestamps.

00:00 Juliette's diagnosis and initial shock 

03:33 The emotional impact of MS 

05:58 The decision to share: who to tell and why 

08:30 Choosing a path: medication and lifestyle changes 

11:09 Life after diagnosis: changes and adaptations 

13:38 Travelling with MS 

16:50 Trying different diets and why evidence mattered 

19:17 Stress support: drawing, meditation, retreats and finding what’s sustainable 

22:41 Studying with MS: a flare-up, disability support and difficult systems 

24:24 Discovering Overcoming MS and choosing a path that “clicked” 

26:50 Family support: making diet changes feel achievable 

29:12 Exercise, confidence and changing mindset 

32:05 Bereavement, stress and finding ways to cope 

35:36 Embracing creativity and possibilities 

If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

In this episode of Living Well with MS, we’re sharing highlights from our Ask Aaron webinar – originally recorded as a live Overcoming MS webinar and now edited for the podcast to bring you the key insights, questions and takeaways in one place.

Our guest is the dynamic and much-loved Dr Aaron Boster, a board-certified neurologist specialising in multiple sclerosis.

Dr Boster answers a wide range of thoughtful, practical questions from the OvercomingMS community. From medications and MRI contrast scans to foot drop, vision changes, supplements and the latest research developments, he brings clarity, warmth and energy to every topic.

If you’ve ever wished you could sit down with a neurologist who truly understands MS, this episode is for you.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

05:08 Exciting developments in MS research

10:54 Subcutaneous injections of Ocrevus

14:27 Remyelination drug trials

22:02 Addressing fatigue in MS patients

30:14 Managing fatigue: strategies and treatments

31:04 Navigating disease-modifying therapies

31:04 Supporting loved ones with MS

35:09 Understanding MRI and gadolinium contrast

38:21 B-Cell depletion therapies and MS progression

40:42 Exploring functional mushrooms and supplements

44:35 The importance of vitamins and nutrition

52:15 Understanding neurofilament light chain

58:28 Foot drop solutions

59:29 Finding the right doctor

01:00:29 Hope for the future of MS

If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

The holidays will soon be upon us, and we all know food is a big part of the fun. This time of year presents the temptation of delicious meals whose ingredients don’t always fit the dietary guidelines Overcoming MS recommends.  

On this episode of the Living Well with MS podcast we are pleased to welcome Ashley Madden, a full-time food lover and health enthusiast. She’s also a pharmacist, plant-based chef, certified holistic nutrition consultant and food photographer.

02:03 About Ashley and her passion for cooking 

03:26 How long have you been following Overcoming MS?  

05:20 Has it been challenging to switch to the Overcoming MS diet?  

09:14 Best tips for making the transition to the Overcoming MS diet easier 

11:53 Tips for making Overcoming MS-friendly holiday meals for large groups and smaller more intimate gatherings? 

21:28 Special tips or meal ideas for holidays 

31:37 Making Overcoming MS-friendly puddings and desserts 

35:14 Top cooking advice when following an Overcoming MS compliant diet 

If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

In this episode of Living Well with MS, we meet adaptive world champion athlete Francis Loye, a Northern Ireland-based father of three who lives with MS.  

Francis was diagnosed in 2021 after experiencing symptoms on a cycling holiday. Since then, he has transformed his life: following the Overcoming MS program, connecting deeply with community, and competing at the very highest level in hybrid and adaptive sport. From the Hyrox World Championships to the gruelling Mallorca 312 endurance race, Francis has shown what’s possible when determination meets lifestyle-led wellness.  

This conversation is full of honesty and inspiration – whether you’re newly diagnosed, returning to exercise, or curious about what adaptive sport looks like in practice.  

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics and timestamps. 

00:43 Francis’s MS journey: diagnosis, fear, acceptance and choosing empowerment 

04:17 Discovering Overcoming MS: a lifeline of hope 

06:23 Discovering the power of community 

07:59 Adapting lifestyle: challenges and triumphs 

11:04 Family health: balancing MS and parenting 

13:40 The Retreat experience: vulnerability and connection 

16:32 Understanding hybrid and adaptive athletics 

20:01 Training regimen: balancing endurance and strength 

25:29 Winning the Hyrox World Championships 

29:19 Diet and nutrition: balancing performance and health 

31:38 Advice for the newly diagnosed: finding peace and community 

If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

In this episode of Living Well with MS, Dr Jonathan White is joined by Dr Stephen Simpson-Yap, Senior Research Fellow at the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) in Melbourne, Senior Research Fellow at the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) in Melbourne, focusing on multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune conditions.

Together they unpack the complex relationship between diet and MS: why diet research is so challenging, what the current evidence tells us, how different MS diet programmes compare, and where the science is heading next. Steve explains how epidemiologists study diet, what makes high-quality research so difficult, and why large, long-term studies like HOLISM and the UK MS Register are so important to people with MS.

This episode is a webinar highlights special – originally recorded as a live Overcoming MS webinar and now edited for the podcast to bring you the key insights, questions and takeaways in one place.

You can watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics and timestamps.

01:53 How diet might influence MS risk, progression and disability

04:24 Why diet research is so hard

07:31 Inside a diet study – what it really takes to measure what people eat

11:27 Comparing MS diets (Overcoming MS, Whals, Best Bet, and more.)

15:06 How researchers actually study diet in MS

24:54 What we know so far Key findings from existing diet studies,

28:02 The future of diet research for MS and how large data sets could change everything

33:35 What this means for people with MS  

If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.