RealTalk MS

Depression affects about 50% of people who are living with MS. That's over one million people around the world. And when you fail to treat depression, every other aspect of life seems to get worse.  My guest on this week's podcast is Dr. Athena Robinson, the Chief Clinical Officer at Woebot Labs, and we're talking about Woebot -- a breakthrough app that lives on your smartphone and has been tested and proven to be effective in treating depression.

The Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis is a national non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating advances toward a cure for MS. My guests on this week's podcast are Dr. Robert McBurney, the President & CEO of the Accelerated Cure Project for MS, and David Gwynne, who manages their Alliances & Collaborations. We're talking about some of their major initiatives, and you'll even learn how you can be a part of MS research.

To kick off MS Awareness Month, we'll go inside a private VIP research briefing where you'll hear 3 award-winning MS research scientists tell us how their work is impacting our understanding of multiple sclerosis. Then, you'll meet my special guest, Emily Blosberg, founder of Oscar, the MS Monkey. Emily is an amazing young lady who's making life better for some of the youngest folks who are living with MS today and their families. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS?

Next week, 300 MS Activists will be in Washington D.C. to hold more than 400 conversations with our elected officials about the legislative issues that are likely to have the greatest impact on people living with MS.  My guest is Bari Talente, Executive Vice President of Advocacy for the National MS Society. This week's entire podcast is devoted to talking about MS advocacy and the importance of being an #MSActivist.

Some people living with MS need help with even the most basic sorts of daily tasks. My guests on the podcast are Angela Lett and Alison Payne from Helping Hands, a non-profit organization that helps adults with MS and other mobility impairments live independent lives by providing them with a very special service animal -- a highly trained capuchin monkey -- to live in their home and assist them with the tasks of everyday living.

If you're looking for no-cost customized, personalized, one-on-one expert advice on all sorts of issues that people with MS encounter, you're going to want to pay attention to my conversation with Kay Julian, Executive Vice-President of Services at the National MS Society.  We're also talking about the demographic imbalance in MS clinical trials, we're discussing the clinical trial results for a stem cell therapy that may reverse physical disability in progressive MS. And lots more MS research news!

Multiple sclerosis doesn't respect borders, and that's why a global response to MS is so necessary. And that's where the MSIF comes in. My guest this week is Mr. Peer Banake, CEO of the MS International Federation. ACTRIMS -- the largest MS research conference in the United States -- took place last week in San Diego, California. We were there, and we're talking about the news and the research announcements that were made at the conference. Are you ready for some RealTalk MS?

This week, our guest is Oded Ben Dov, an Israeli game developer who ended up creating life-changing technology designed to help people living with MS, ALS, and other disabilities. We're talking about some exciting news in Progressive MS research. And important research news out of Australia. We're also talking about a possible treatment for MS fatigue. And we'll tell you about a chewing gum that offers the controlled release of cannabinoids to treat MS pain and spasticity. 

We're talking with Dr. Maja Mataric about how socially assistive robots could be real game-changers for people living with MS and other chronic conditions, as well as their caregivers. We're also breaking down the specific ways that the new U.S. tax code will impact people living with MS. We'll tell you why the FDA just raised a red flag for a stem cell treatment for MS that made promises it wasn't keeping. Along with lots more MS news! We have a lot to talk about! So are you ready for RealTalk MS?

Jon's guest on the podcast is Victoria Reese, founder of the We Are Illmatic campaign. We Are Illmatic is building awareness and providing support for women of color who are living with MS in their lives. We have good news about the U.S. Defense Department's MS Research Program, and the passage of the bipartisan RAISE Caregivers Act. You'll even find out how an MS patient's handwriting may predict a decline in movement, sensory, & cognitive skills. Are you ready for RealTalk MS?

It's a new year and we have a lot to talk about! There's good news about clinical trials...the FDA has given a Breakthrough Therapy designation for the first MS treatment approved for children and teens living with MS...UCLA researchers have identified why estrogen seems to have real potential as a treatment for MS...pharmaceutical companies are suing California over prescription price transparency...and host Jon Strum will tell you why the pace of scientific discovery is going to increase in 2018.

The International Progressive MS Alliance is an unprecedented global alliance of MS organizations, researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, and people living with progressive MS, transforming the landscape of multiple sclerosis. This week, we're talking about the work and the progress of the Alliance with Professor Alan Thompson, Dean of Faculty of Brain Sciences at University College London, and Chair of the Alliance's Scientific Steering Committee.

Multiple sclerosis affects men and women differently. Women are 3 times more likely to get MS, but men often develop more significant disabilities from MS. This week's guest, Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, is a trailblazer in not only exploring the differences between the sexes in MS, but in identifying what seems to be a safe and effective treatment for MS. So why aren't pharmaceutical companies lining up to bring this treatment to market? It's all in this week's podcast.

We're talking about how the pending income tax legislation can be financially devastating to families living with MS - and we'll explain what you can do about it right now. We'll look at a new clinical trial testing a cannabis-based medicine designed to treat MS symptoms. We'll give you one more very good reason why people diagnosed with MS should not be smoking. And we'll break down how, when, and by how much, multiple sclerosis impacts a woman's pregnancy.

Being a caregiver for a family member with MS or any chronic illness can be one of the greatest blessings that a person may receive. It can also be one of the most stress-producing, anxiety-creating, and even life-threatening undertakings that a person may endure. No one ever applies to be a caregiver, and the job doesn't come with an instruction manual. So we're talking about what it means to be an awesome caregiver.