RealTalk MS

RealTalk MS

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RealTalk MS episodes

  • Episode 481: It's Time to Update the Way We Describe MS with Dr. Peter Calabresi
    The current clinical language used to describe multiple sclerosis hasn't kept pace with modern neuroscience—and clinging to outdated categories can stall treatment decisions, muddy research, and obscure what people living with MS actually experience. This week, we're exploring why it's time to modernize how we define and discuss the disease course, grounded in underlying biology rather than superficial clinical labels.

    Joining the conversation is Dr. Peter Calabresi, who chaired the pivotal session "Biological Disease Course Descriptors" at MS Toronto 2026, to break down the latest consensus, what biological descriptors mean for day-to-day clinical care, and how updating our vocabulary will accelerate smarter, more personalized therapeutic strategies.

    We're also reporting encouraging clinical trial results for people living with non-active secondary progressive MS.

    And we're sharing a very sad story that should remind all of us that AI chatbots like ChatGPT shouldn't be practicing medicine.

    We have a lot to talk about. Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: Why it's time to update the way we describe MS :22

    Encouraging Phase 2a clinical trial results for people with non-active secondary progressive MS 7:56

    A cautionary tale illustrates why AI chatbots shouldn't practice medicine 14:40

    Dr. Peter Calabresi explains the why and how of adopting biologically-driven MS course descriptors 19:33

    Share this episode 28:54

    Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 29:14

    Next week 30:00

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/481

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

    And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    READ: Patient Voice: The Label Given to My MS Disease Course Matters To Me: YES! https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585251396262

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

    REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

    Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

    RealTalk MS Episode 481 Guests: Dr. Peter Calabresi

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    32 min
  • Episode 480: MSToronto 2026 with Dr. Jeffrey Cohen and Dr. Robert Fox
    Our coverage of MSToronto 2026 continues this week with two important conversations. First, we'll hear from Dr. Jeffrey Cohen about the latest clinical findings on CAR-T cell therapy as a potential treatment for MS. Then, Dr. Robert Fox will update us on the global research portfolio being driven by the International Progressive MS Alliance.

    And we have to talk about Christina Applegate. By now, the news of her misdiagnosis isn't really news. But we have some suggestions for how you might want to process that news.

    We have a lot to talk about. Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: MSToronto 2026 :22

    But, first, we have to talk about Christina Applegate :46

    Dr. Jeffrey Cohen discusses what the experts are learning about CAR-T cell therapy 6:51

    Dr. Robert Fox shares an update on the global work being driven by the International Progressive MS Alliance 19:03

    Share this episode 34:21

    Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 34:40

    Next week 35:25

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/480

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

    And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    PARTICIPATE: Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Orelabrutinib and Non-Active Secondary Progressive MS https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07299019

    PARTICIPATE: Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Orelabrutinib and Primary Progressive MS https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07067463

    LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 424: I'm a Participant in a Clinical Trial for CAR T-Cell Therapy and MS with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik https://realtalkms.com/424

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

    REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

    Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

    RealTalk MS Episode 480 Guests: Dr. Jeffrey Cohen and Dr. Robert Fox

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    37 min
  • Episode 479: From MSToronto 2026 with Dr. Bruce Bebo and Kristine Werner Ozug
    Last week, about 8,000 MS researchers and clinicians arrived in Toronto, Canada, for MSToronto 2026, the joint meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in MS and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS, and the largest MS research conference in the world.

    As the meeting adjourned, the National MS Society's Chief Research and Medical Affairs Officer, Dr. Bruce Bebo, joined me to share some of the presentations and announcements that he found particularly important.

    My RealTalk MS teammate, Kristine Werner Ozug, also joined me in Toronto. Drawing on her own journey with MS, Kristine brings invaluable personal insight to the table. This week, Kristine shares the research and critical conversations that she's taking away from MS Toronto 2026.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: MSToronto 2026 :22

    Dr. Bruce Bebo shares the presentations and announcements that he found particularly important at MS Toronto 2026 1:11

    Kristine Werner Ozug shares her take-aways from MS Toronto 2026 13:54

    Share this episode 43:37

    Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 43:57

    Next Week: More from MS Toronto 2026! 44:43

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/479

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

    And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    WATCH: National MS Society Webinar -- MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AHyGKuRxvw

    VISIT: The Congressional Health Care Access Report Card https:/realtalkms.com/congressional-healthcare-access-report-card/

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

    REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

    Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

    RealTalk MS Episode 479 Guest: Dr. Bruce Bebo and Kristine Werner Ozug

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    46 min
  • Episode 478: From MSToronto 2026 Patient Community Day with Professor Peter Feys and Karen Jacoby
    Welcome to a special episode of RealTalk MS and The ECTRIMS Podcast! MS Toronto 2026 concluded with the event we were most looking forward to -- Patient Community Day -- where some of the top MS experts in the world broke down the research presented over the course of the 3-day meeting and answered questions from people living with MS in easy-to-understand English.

    In this special episode, Professor Peter Feys, an MS rehabilitation expert from Hasselt University in Belgium, and Karen Jacoby, who lives with MS and serves as an MSCanada Ambassador, stepped off the stage at Patient Community Day to share their perspectives on MSToronto 2026.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: MSToronto 2026 Patient Community Day :25

    Just after stepping off stage at Patient Community Day, Professor Peter Feys and Karen Jacoby share their thoughts on MSToronto 2026 1:21

    Share this episode 19:57

    Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 20:17

    Don't miss Thursday's Special Episode! 20:59

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/478

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

    And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    WATCH: National MS Society Webinar -- MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AHyGKuRxvw

    VISIT: The Congressional Health Care Access Report Card https:/realtalkms.com/congressional-healthcare-access-report-card/

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

    REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

    Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

    RealTalk MS Episode 478 Guest: Professor Peter Feys and Karen Jacoby

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    23 min
  • Episode 477: One Year After CAR T-Cell Therapy with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik
    Jan Janisch-Hanzlik was the first MS patient to receive CAR T-cell therapy as part of a clinical trial. We met Jan last year, in episode 424 of RealTalk MS, when she gave us a first-hand report on how she was responding to this treatment.

    This week, Jan is back with an update on how she's responding to CAR T-cell therapy one year later.

    We're just two weeks away from the U.S. midterm elections. We're sharing some resources that will help you get ready to vote.

    And we'll remind you that MSToronto 2026 begins tomorrow, and you still have time to register for Patient Community Day.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: An update one year after receiving CAR T-cell therapy :22

    Some homework to help get you ready to vote in the U.S. midterm elections 2:44

    Jan Janisch-Hanzlik shares an update one year after receiving CAR T-cell therapy to treat her MS 6:37

    Share this episode 28:11

    Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 28:31

    Next week 29:12

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/477

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

    And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    WATCH: National MS Society Webinar -- MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AHyGKuRxvw

    VISIT: The Congressional Health Care Access Report Card https:/realtalkms.com/congressional-healthcare-access-report-card/

    LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 424: I'm a Participant in a Clinical Trial for CAR T-Cell Therapy and MS with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik https://realtalkms.com/424

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

    REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

    Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

    RealTalk MS Episode 477 Guest: Jan Janisch-Hanzlik

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    31 min
  • Episode 476: MS in the Workplace with Dana Foote
    What happens when you're diagnosed with a chronic, unpredictable condition just as your career is taking off? That's exactly what happened to my guest, Dana Foote.

    This week, Dana joins us to share her journey from hiding her MS diagnosis as a young auditor at one of the largest accounting organizations in the world to becoming National Managing Partner for Audit & Assurance Operations and a leader in the MS community.

    We'll also update you on the status of a disease-modifying therapy that has been submitted to the FDA for review as a potential treatment for relapsing MS and primary progressive MS.

    We're sharing details of the National MS Society's recent $8.9 million investment to support 15 cutting-edge research projects.

    We'll tell you about a study that shows physical therapy can produce confirmed disability improvement for people living with MS.

    And we'll remind you that with MSToronto 2026 just one week away, you can still register for Patient Community Day.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: Managing MS in a demanding, high-stakes work environment :22

    The FDA grants fenebrutinib Priority Review status 1:22

    The National MS Society announced $8.9 million in new research investments 4:53

    A study shows ongoing physical therapy can lead to confirmed disability improvement 9:12

    We're one week away from MSToronto 2026. Will you be part of Patient Community Day? 13:40

    Dana Foote shares her corporate journey from a young auditor diagnosed with MS to National Managing Partner for Audit & Assurance Operations at KPMG US 15:40

    Share this episode 33:20

    Have you downloaded the RealTalk MS app? 33:36

    Next week 34:21

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/476

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

    And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    RealTalk MS Episode 461: A New Disease-Modifying Therapy Has Been Submitted for FDA Approval with Dr. Jiwon Oh https://realtalkms.com/461

    STUDY: Physiotherapy and Confirmed Disability Improvement in People with Multiple Sclerosis https://msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(26)00949-1/fulltext

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

    REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

    Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

    RealTalk MS Episode 476 Guest: Dana Foote

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    37 min
  • Episode 475: New Tools and Strategies for Managing MS-Related Cognitive Changes with Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch

    Whether it's walking into a room and blanking on why you're there, struggling to pull up a word that's right on the tip of your tongue, or losing track of daily tasks, cognitive fatigue and brain fog can turn simple routines into exhausting hurdles.

    What makes cognitive changes particularly challenging is their invisibility. They don't show up on a routine check-in like mobility issues do. Family members might misread them as distraction. Employers might see them as disengagement. And all too often, clinicians don't have immediate, actionable tools to offer beyond standard advice.

    This week, we're talking with Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch, a research neuropsychologist at the Mandell Center for Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care and Neuroscience Research at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Gromisch's work focuses on moving beyond the diagnostic label to give people real, evidence-based compensatory tools.

    We're discussing the science of prospective memory—remembering to perform planned actions in the future—and exploring how smart digital tools, strategic daily systems, and patient empowerment can help you take control and maintain your independence.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: New tools and strategies for managing and even improving MS-related cognitive changes :22

    We're less than 3 weeks away from MS Toronto 2026 Patient Community Day! Have you registered yet? 1:23

    Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch shares a preview of new digital tools to measure and manage MS-related cogntive changes 2:19

    Share this episode 28:39

    Download the RealTalk MS app 28:58

    Next week 29:42

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/475

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

    And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    DOWNLOAD: The New RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

    REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

    Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

    RealTalk MS Episode 475 Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Gromisch

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    31 min
  • Episode 474: The House That MS Built with Sarah Timmerman
    Most people don't think about home accessibility until mobility changes force the conversation. But what if you decide to take control of the unknown and design your living space for whatever the future might bring?

    My guest, Sarah Timmerman, explains how she took total control of her future by designing and building what she calls The House That MS Built—a home engineered from the foundation up to future-proof her independence through smart, universal design and relentless self-advocacy.

    We'll also tell you about a research team that identified 4 biomarkers that, together, can help a neurologist understand whether a stem cell therapy is working for their patient weeks before that patient returns to the clinic.

    We're sharing results of a trial that answered the question, "Can diet actually change what's happening at the cellular level inside the brain?" You'll want to hear these results!

    And we'll tell you about a research team that has developed a derivative of an HIV medication that restored mobility and vision to mice with the mouse version of MS.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: The House that MS Built :22

    Have you downloaded the new RealTalk MS app for your iOS or Android device? 1:16

    Researchers at Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York identify 4 biomarkers that can help physicians track the response to stem cell therapy in people living with progressive MS 2:01

    New research identifies how gut health can lead to nerve cell damage in MS 4:49

    Repurposed HIV medication restores lost function in the mouse model of MS 8:48

    Sarah Timmerman shares her story and explains how relentless self-advocacy became the foundation for the House that MS Built 12:55

    Share this episode 24:09

    Next week 24:29

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/474

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

    And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    DOWNLOAD: The RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    STUDY: Effect of Intrathecal Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Neural Progenitors on Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13585449

    STUDY: High-Fat Diet Promotes T-Cell Mediated Synaptic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12974-026-04049-x

    STUDY: The Nucleoside Analog Kamuvudine-9 Shows Protective and Therapeutic Efficacy in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis https://science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aei2870

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

    REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

    Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

    RealTalk MS Episode 474 Guest: Sarah Timmerman

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    26 min
  • Episode 473: The National MS Society -- A CEO Briefing with Dr. Tim Coetzee

    RealTalk MS is celebrating our ninth anniversary, and we're marking the milestone with a special guest! Dr. Tim Coetzee, President and CEO of the National MS Society, returns to the show for a candid, forward-looking conversation about why today represents one of the most promising moments for advancing MS research and transforming clinical care.

    We're taking a hard look at the game-changers on the horizon: what it will take to shorten the diagnostic journey from years down to mere hours, why it's time to retire outdated disease labels in favor of true precision medicine, and the surprising science behind testing GLP-1s for neuroprotection.

    From unlocking massive clinical data sets to fighting for research dollars on Capitol Hill, Tim pulls back the curtain on the Society's strategic plan to end MS once and for all. Pop in your earbuds and join us in celebrating nine years of community and conversation!

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: Dr. Tim Coetzee briefs us on the National MS Society's strategic priorities and shares his vision of the future of MS care :18

    Download the new RealTalk MS app for your iOS and Android smartphone and tablet 1:56

    We gave the RealTalk MS website a glow-up! 2:37

    Check your congressional representative's grade in the Congressional Healthcare Access Report Card 3:07

    Dr. Tim Coetzee discusses the MS Society's strategic priorities and shares his vision of the future of MS care 3:46

    Share this episode 37:04

    Next week 37:24

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/473

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

    And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    DOWNLOAD: The New RealTalk MS App iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id6769516594 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtalkms.app&pcampaignid=web_share

    JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms

    REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review

    Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com.

    RealTalk MS Episode 473 Guest: Dr. Tim Coetzee

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    39 min
  • Episode 472: ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Patient Community Day Preview with Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves
    We are less than 40 days away from MSToronto2026—the joint ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS Scientific Congress. While the congress brings together the world's leading MS researchers and clinicians, Patient Community Day —in person and online—is designed specifically for people affected by multiple sclerosis. This week, Dr. Jennifer Graves and Brett Drummond join me to preview what to expect from Patient Community Day 2026.

    With less than 50 days until the midterm elections in the United States, the National MS Society is hosting a webinar you can't afford to miss, titled MS Advocacy in Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care. We'll tell you how to register (And we'll remind you why you should!).

    A 22-country survey of over 17,000 people with MS revealed that the invisible symptoms of MS remain critically unaddressed. We're sharing the details of this landmark survey.

    We're sharing early trial results of a precision red blood cell therapy designed to halt myelin attacks without shutting down the immune system.

    We'll tell you about the German research team that's repurposing a common, low-cost medication into a skin patch designed to jumpstart natural remyelination.

    And we'll share a study showing how simple, short voice recordings can predict long-term cognitive changes and brain volume loss in people living with MS.

    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

    This Week: A preview of Patient Community Day 2026 :22

    The National MS Society is hosting a webinar you shouldn't miss 1:32

    Results of a landmark survey reveal critical unmet needs among people living with MS 5:27

    A new approach to preventing MS inflammatory attacks while keeping the rest of the immune system intact 8:27

    Could a skin patch successfully promote myelin repair? 11:42

    Can analyzing regular speech predict future brain atrophy in people with MS? 14:34

    Dr. Jennifer Graves and Brett Drummond give us a preview of Patient Community Day 2026 18:53

    Share this episode 33:01

    Next week 33:20

    SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS

    Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/472

    ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION

    I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts!

    Email: [email protected] Phone: (310) 526-2283

    And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group!

    LINKS

    If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com

    REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day 2026 https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu

    WEBINAR: Advocacy In Action: What the 2026 Elections Could Mean for Healthcare Policy and Access to Care https://nmss.quorum.us/event/37051

    STUDY: Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms Survey: Patient-Reported Data on the Prevalence, Burden, and Management of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms in Europe https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261480514

    STUDY: Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with Peptide-Coupled Red Blood Cells Induces Antigen-Specific T Regulatory Cells https://pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2614908123

    STUDY: Automated Speech Analysis Reveals Progressive Linguistic Changes Associated With Subsequent Gray Matter Loss in Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13524585261477213

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    RealTalk MS Episode 472 Guest: Brett Drummond and Dr. Jennifer Graves

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    35 min

About RealTalk MS

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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…

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