On the fifth episode of the Raw Nerve, co-host Rohan Greenland is joined by MS Australia President, Associate Professor Des Graham to explore a new report commissioned by MS Australia and undertaken by the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania, which has found the number of Australians living with multiple sclerosis (MS) is increasing at a significant and accelerating rate.

To help unpack the findings, report authors Principal Research Fellow at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research and Clinical Neurologist at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Professor Bruce Taylor and Head of the Health Economics Research Unit at Menzies and lead author of the report, Professor Andrew Palmer sit down with Rohan and Des to discuss the findings in detail, to examine the many lifestyle and behavioural risk factors that may contribute to a person developing MS, and to discuss the economic impact MS has on Australian society.

Just as important as exploring the why, Des and Rohan discuss what the Government must now do in response to this concerning new data.

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On this, the fourth episode of the Raw Nerve, co-host Phil O’Neil speaks with Art Alexakis, lead singer of American Rock band Everclear, currently touring Australia. Everclear was formed by Art in Portland Oregon in 1991. The band’s first three albums went platinum and the band has sold over 6 million records.

Beyond knowing each other off and on for over 30 years, and their involvement in the music industry, Phil and Art share an even bigger connection, having both been diagnosed with MS in 2016.

Art talks openly about his diagnosis, how his MS affects him when touring and performing, and about being of service to others.

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On the third episode of the Raw Nerve, co-host Phil O’Neil catches up with Jennifer Willis, ahead of her attempt to become the first Australian living with MS to reach the top of Mount Everest.

Diagnosed with MS in 2018 Jen was determined to learn how to mountaineer and to fundraise for MS research. Now she’s about to embark on a 51-day expedition that will see her combine those two ambitions.

Jen talks openly about her personal ‘road to diagnosis’ and the challenge posed by both extreme heat and extreme cold when climbing in the Himalayas. Be inspired as Phil and Jenn talk about overcoming fear, realising dreams and the metaphorical ‘mountains’ we all have to climb.

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Views expressed on the Raw Nerve Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Australia and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.

MS Australia does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist.

On this, our second episode of the Raw Nerve, we’re delighted to introduce the Podcast’s new co-host, Phil O’Neil.  You may know him as ’Ugly Phil’. He’s currently hosting Mornings on WSFM in Sydney and he’s a veteran Australian radio broadcaster. Phil’s going to add his wealth of broadcasting experience together with his unique insight as a person living with MS. Today we put Phil into the Guest hot seat to talk about his own MS journey. Phil chats candidly with our host Rohan Greenland and MS Australia’s Dr Therese Burke, an MS Certified Nurse, about how he’s navigated the challenges of MS, what he’s learnt along the way, his infectious positivity and his desire to give back to the MS Community.

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What is MS?

Episode Transcript

Views expressed on the Raw Nerve Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Australia and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.

MS Australia does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist.

Join our host, MS Australia CEO, Rohan Greenland and guests, Dr Julia Morahan, MS Australia’s Head of Research, and Dr Therese Burke, an MS Certified Nurse and MS Australia’s Clinical Platform Coordinator.

In this, MS Australia’s inaugural ‘The Raw Nerve’ Podcast, Rohan and guests discuss some of the big issues showcased at the world’s largest MS Research Conference - ECTRIMS 2022, the 27th Annual Conference of the European / committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis.

Rohan speaks with Therese about a workshop highlighting the critical importance of MS Nurses in ensuring the best possible outcomes for people living with MS. (01:28)

Also announced at ECTRIMS – the results from PREVANZ – an MS Australia clinical trial examining whether vitamin D supplements prevented MS development in people at high risk. As Rohan and Julia explain; the findings raise many interesting questions. (06:23)

Other ECTRIM highlights discussed this week; paediatric onset MS (11:19), the importance of early detection of MS (12:13), an introduction to Adaptive Clinical Trials – a new way of looking at clinical trials (20:05), and finally, a look at behavioural risk factors for MS (21:54)

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Views expressed on the Raw Nerve Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Australia and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.

MS Australia does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist.