In this episode of the Living Well with MS podcast we are pleased to have Véronique Gauthier-Simmons as our guest! Originally from France and now residing in Portugal, Véronique was diagnosed with MS at the age of 34, but through the Overcoming MS Program and her love of exercise found a way to make staying fit a meaningful part of her life. She now helps others do the same as an Overcoming MS facilitator and qualified yoga instructor and yoga therapist. 

Watch this episode on YouTube here. 

05:30 Véronique’s yoga business, Taming the Walrus 

07:22 How do you decide which exercise is right for you? 

12:54 Should one stay within their comfort zone, or push their boundaries? 

16:25 What kind of exercises can you do if not fully mobile? 

18:59 Between watching exercise videos or taking a fitness class, which is better? 

If you enjoy this podcast, please support the ongoing work and podcasts from Overcoming MS by leaving 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 – the podcast where we explore how lifestyle choices and evidence-based approaches can help people live full and healthy lives with multiple sclerosis – we look at the surprising benefits of dance with Tiffany Stott and Emily Davis from Scottish Ballet.  

Tiffany leads Scottish Ballet’s Dance Health Programmes, and Emily recently completed her PhD on Elevate – a dance programme created specifically for people with MS. What makes Elevate stand out is its inclusivity: whether you’re seated, standing, brand new to dance or have years of experience, the classes are adapted so everyone can take part. 

 Join us as we explore how the arts and science come together to support people with MS, and why dance might be one of the most uplifting ways to live well. 

01:00 Introduction to Dance for MS 

01:57 Scottish Ballet’s health programmes 

05:47 How the Elevate programme was developed 

10:52 The research and evidence for Dance and MS 

15:02 What a class looks and feels like 

20:49 Emily’s PhD findings on Elevate 

24:48 Overcoming barriers to participation 

27:45 Benefits of dance for MS 

30:48 How to get involved with Elevate

If you enjoy this podcast, please support the ongoing work and podcasts from Overcoming MS by leaving 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 inspiring episode of Living Well with MS, we’re joined by the incredible Brenda Snow. Brenda is a business leader, patient advocate, and the author of Diagnosed: The Essential Guide to Navigating the Patient’s Journey. Living with multiple sclerosis herself, Brenda opens up about the realities of life with a chronic condition – from the early phases of grief and anger to ultimately finding acceptance and purpose. She shares how patients can stay connected to their identity, seek support, and even turn anger into positive action. 

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or years into your MS journey, Brenda’s insights will leave you feeling understood, supported, and empowered. 

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

00:00 Introduction to Brenda Snow and her journey with MS. 

08:28 Writing her book, ‘Diagnosed’: How Brenda turned personal experience into a guide for others. 

15:30 Before the diagnosis: understanding the confusion and challenges of the early phase. 

22:57 How to channel anger into action. 

28:48 Supporting the supporters, why care partners need care too. 

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 [email protected].

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

In this special episode of Living Well with MS, we’re sharing highlights from our ‘Ask Aaron’ webinar, recorded in front of a global audience. 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 submitted by the Overcoming MS community. From medications and MRI scans to functional mushrooms, vitamin D, menopause, and lifestyle changes, he covered it all with his trademark clarity and energy.

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

00:00 Welcome and introduction

02:53 Understanding patient support in MS care

05:43 Symptom management and treatment options

08:41 Blood tests and regular health monitoring

11:44 Drug trials, research, and what’s on the horizon

15:52 MRI insights and tracking disease activity

18:46 Remyelination and alternative therapies

21:51 Women’s health, menopause and MS

24:42 Long-term management strategies

27:49 Diet, lifestyle, and the power of habit

30:36 The value of community and support networks

33:47 Final thoughts and closing remarks.

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 [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 Dr Agne Straukiene, a neurologist, researcher and MS specialist who advocates for proactive, lifestyle-based MS management. Dr Straukiene is also the host of the Bee Well with MS podcast, where she shares expert insights to support people living with MS.

Together, we explore why understanding your symptoms, using digital self-management tools, and making sustainable lifestyle choices can make a meaningful difference to your wellbeing. Dr Straukiene also shares highlights from the latest research and offers practical tips for preparing for clinical appointments.

01:59 Dr Straukiene’s journey into MS care

03:57 Why self-management matters

06:41 Using digital tools to track and manage MS

11:21 Recognising and understanding symptom patterns

15:47 How to prepare for clinical consultations

22:33 Lifestyle interventions and their impact on MS

29:47 About the Bee Well with MS podcast

37:06 Latest research into lifestyle and MS outcomes

40:33 Managing progressive MS

43:29 Where MS research is heading next.

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 [email protected].

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

In this episode of Living Well with MS, where we explore ways to live a full and healthy life with multiple sclerosis, we’re sharing highlights from the final session of our Refresh with Overcoming MS webinar series – a wide-ranging and engaging Q&A with Dr Jonathan White.

Jonny is not only a practising doctor and medical advisor to Overcoming MS but also lives with MS himself. In this lively and informative session, he answers real questions from the Overcoming MS community, covering everything from vitamin D, diet and symptom management to hormone replacement therapy, relapse vs progression, takeaway choices, fatigue and more.

Whether you’re just starting out with the Overcoming MS lifestyle or have been following it for years, this episode is full of warmth, relatable insight and practical advice you can use right away.

01:15 Meet Dr Jonathan White and discover his journey with the Overcoming MS Program

02:51 Can HRT help women with PPMS in menopause?

04:55 What takeaway food can you enjoy on the Overcoming MS diet?

06:45 Swollen feet and legs – are they an MS symptom?

07:55 Does MS shorten life expectancy? Let’s look at the facts

09:40 Should gluten and dairy be avoided with MS?

12:20 What are paroxysmal symptoms – and should you worry if they return?

14:29 Tiny amounts of oil in foods: is it okay or a deal-breaker?

16:51 What’s new in MS research?

18:47 Does menopause speed up progression? Exploring relapse vs progression

20:22 Managing progressive MS and the idea of “smouldering MS”

21:17 Is coconut syrup Overcoming MS-friendly?

21:50 What if symptoms never fully go away? Tips for living with incomplete remission

24:44 Could propionic acid help people with MS? Gut health meets cutting-edge science

27:00 Stem cell treatment: cure, hope, or hype?

29:32 Fatigue and MS: can medication help?

31:34 What does it mean to have “inactive” MS – and can it still progress?

35:05 Worried about your children getting MS? What the evidence really says.

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 [email protected].

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

This is a bonus from the archives episode of Living Well with MS.

Navigating the range of medication choices for people with MS can be challenging. There are so many factors to consider – from effectiveness to side-effects – so we are fortunate to have Dr. Aaron Boster, an Ohio-based neurologist specializing in MS, as this episode’s guest on Living Well with MS to help demystify the myriad Disease Modifying Drugs that are presently available to manage MS. 

01:30 Introduction to Dr Boster  

03:31 Medication levels of efficacy 

08:22 Some of the most prescribed disease modifying therapies and how to choose one 

09:53 Making the right choice when deciding to start a new medication 

17:42 Medium and high efficacy drugs 

30:06 Do the most effective medications always have the most side-effects? 

33:10 Considering Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) 

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 [email protected].

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

In this inspiring episode of Living Well with MS, we’re joined by Kristen Karasek, a passionate advocate, dance teacher, and vibrant force in the MS community. Diagnosed at 24, Kristen has turned her MS journey into a mission to give back, raise awareness, and uplift others through movement and advocacy. Kristen is also the recipient of the Dorothy Corwin ‘Spirit of Life’ Award, a prestigious honour presented by the National MS Society to individuals who exemplify exceptional courage, compassion, and positivity while living with MS. This conversation explores everything from political activism to the healing power of dance, and how to find your voice as an advocate, whether in the doctor’s office or the wider world.

01:54 Kristen’s MS diagnosis and journey

04:33 How healthy lifestyle habits have supported Kristen

06:02 Why therapy and peer connection matter when you’re newly diagnosed

08:07 The personal power of giving back to the MS community

09:10 How to get involved in State Action Days and political advocacy

11:21 The impact of dance and movement on MS symptoms

12:54 Advocating for the right healthcare team

14:32 How to advocate for yourself during appointments

15:33 What winning the Dorothy Corwin Spirit of Life Award meant to her

17:20 Kristen’s advice for those newly diagnosed with MS.

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 [email protected].

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

Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast that empowers you to take control of your health and wellbeing. In this episode, we’re sharing highlights from a recent webinar hosted by Overcoming MS Program Facilitator and Nutritional Therapist Karen Lee. Karen is joined by plant-based chef, Jack McNulty, and Overcoming MS community members, Melody Landwehr and Jenna Cox, to explore the diet pillar of the Overcoming MS Program. From practical cooking strategies and understanding fats, to batch cooking, eating out, and overcoming early challenges, our guests share a mix of lived experience and expert insight to help you feel confident and inspired in your approach to eating for MS health. 

01:17 Karen introduces the Overcoming MS diet pillar and describes what it involves 

04:36 Jack shares his story, insights from the Overcoming MS Handbook, and practical cooking tips 

19:53 Melody discusses her gradual, realistic journey into adopting the Overcoming MS diet 

23:06 Jenna reflects on going dairy-free, shares a free recipe resource, and offers tips for eating out with confidence 

28:58 The panel shares their go-to weeknight meals for busy days 

31:15 Quick and easy snack ideas that fit the Overcoming MS way of eating 

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 [email protected].

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

In this episode of Living Well with MS – exploring topics relating to living a full and healthy life with multiple sclerosis – host  Geoff Allix welcomes Jake Connor, Service Delivery Manager at Overcoming MS, for a deep dive into the charity’s evolving support services and what it means to be part of a global MS community. From his personal connection to MS through his mother’s diagnosis, Jake shares how his journey from the corporate world to the charity sector has been driven by purpose and empathy.

Jake talks through the range of Overcoming MS's evidence-informed offerings, including webinars, courses, retreats and the Live Well Hub, and the impact they have on individuals living with MS. He also introduces Living Well Live, Overcoming MS’s brand-new all-day hybrid event, designed to inspire, educate and connect the MS community both in person and around the world.

01:20 Meet Jake: his role at Overcoming MS and what drives him

02:51 A personal journey: Jake shares his MS connection

04:35 Finding purpose: why Jake joined the Overcoming MS team

07:39 Beyond support: the wide range of services we offer

10:33 All about the Pathway to Overcoming MS course

12:11 Awards, recognition and journal articles

13:13 Transformation at Overcoming MS residential retreats

16:33 Why our Living Well with MS webinars are so popular

18:31 Exploring community in the Live Well Hub

20:36 A new event for 2025: Living Well Live

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 [email protected].

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