Best Ruth and Kristin Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 404: World MS Day 2025 with Meredith O'Brien 26:26

21m ago26:26

26:26

Every five minutes, someone somewhere in the world is diagnosed with MS. But getting that diagnosis can be challenging. And the evidence is clear that early intervention makes a difference. The sooner someone can begin a disease-modifying therapy, the better their outcome is going to be. World MS Day is May 30th, and this year, World MS Day is focu…

1
Episode 403: Moving Toward a Biologically Based Description of MS with Dr. Bruce Bebo, Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, and Kathy Smith 37:14

5d ago37:14

37:14

Last week, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis convened a meeting in Dublin, Ireland, to dive deeper into what a new framework for describing MS might look like. There's still a tremendous amount of work to be done here. But, considering that whatever language is eventu…

1
Episode 402: The Importance of Asserting Your Personal Style When You're Living with MS with Jeri Zink Denz 31:00

12d ago31:00

31:00

If you're living with MS, you might experience days when it feels like you're losing your sense of who you are, as your sense of self gets redefined by your symptoms. Reasserting your personal style can be a powerful way to rediscover joy in who you are while reclaiming your identity. Jeri Zink Denz lives with MS and works in the luxury fashion ind…

1
Borealis Mix X Vers Libre: KADAPAT 31:27

11d ago31:27

31:27

A fantastic mix by KADAPAT – an experimental gamelan project consisting of Yogi and Barga, based on Bali in Indonesia, made for Borealis – a festival for experimental music in Bergen, Norway and community radio station Vers Libre. Indonesian duo KADAPAT is characterised by their hybrid identities between the balinese traditions and legends, the tec…

1
Episode 401: The Things That (Should) Happen at Your Appointment With Your Neurologist with Dr. Barbara Giesser 32:09

19d ago32:09

32:09

Most people living with MS don't see their neurologist often. For many, it might be only once or twice a year. A lot of important things take place during that appointment. Symptoms are assessed. Decisions about disease-modifying therapies are made or, sometimes, changed. Questions get asked and, hopefully, answered. Dr. Barbara Giesser returns to …

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Episode 400: The President and CEO of the National MS Society Looks Back at the Past and Shares a Vision of the Future with Dr. Tim Coetzee 35:02

26d ago35:02

35:02

Welcome to the 400th episode of RealTalk MS! Over the past nearly eight years, it's been my absolute honor to bring you insights from leading experts, researchers, advocates, and, perhaps most importantly, from people living with MS themselves. And we have no intention of stopping here! We're excited to continue bringing you the information and con…

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Season 4, Episode 7: Hedwig Dohm's feminist philosophy: Interview with Katie Brennan 40:53

26d ago40:53

40:53

In this episode, Jacinta speaks with Dr Katie Brennan, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Salve Regina University, about the 19th-century German feminist philosopher Hedwig Dohm. Brennan speaks about Dohm’s diverse philosophical modes, from salon-hosting to political essays to novellas, and how her participation in the urgent and burgeoning femin…

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Episode 399: How Spirituality Can Make a Difference If You're Living with MS with Dr. Mana Ali Carter 32:14

1M ago32:14

32:14

Research shows that spirituality can benefit mental health and improve overall well-being. And it can play a meaningful role in helping people cope with life’s challenges, like living with MS. This week, Dr. Mana Ali Carter, a rehabilitation psychologist at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington D.C., joins me to discuss the positiv…

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Episode 398: How Breakthrough Discoveries in MS Research Will Impact MS Care with Dr. Amit Bar-Or 24:05

1M ago24:05

24:05

Last week, at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, Dr. Amit Bar-Or received the John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research for his multiple achievements that have advanced our knowledge of neuroimmunology, precision medicine, and biomarkers in MS. We talked with Dr. Bar-Or about how some of the latest discoveries in MS research …

1
Episode 397: Managing Grief and MS with Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor 35:34

2M ago35:34

35:34

For many people, it can be difficult to talk about the feelings of loss that can accompany MS. For some, it's the loss of the way they imagined their life would turn out. For others, it's the more specific loss of function. Perhaps the loss of their mobility. Or a decline in their cognitive skills. It's painful to imagine any of these scenarios, le…

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Episode 396: The Importance of Cancer Screenings for People Living with MS With Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie 31:35

2M ago31:35

31:35

Managing MS means staying focused not only on your MS but also on your overall health. That includes getting routine health screenings to stay ahead of potential complications. Recent research has shown that, compared to healthy people, people with MS are more likely to develop some cancers. Clinician-scientist Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie joins me to discu…

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Episode 395: Things You Need to Know When You're Managing MS While You're Managing Menopause with Dr. Riley Bove 34:28

2M ago34:28

34:28

When you look at a list of the typical symptoms associated with perimenopause, you'd think you were looking at a list of MS symptoms. And, for women living with MS, that's where the confusion begins. With an estimated 30% of the current MS population now in peri- or post-menopause, researchers are beginning to focus on how menopause and MS interact…

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Episode 394: Probably The Most Important Conversation About MS Advocacy That We Will Ever Have with Steffany Stern 27:18

2M ago27:18

27:18

Next week, a couple of hundred MS activists will gather in Washington, D.C. for the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference. As we're seeing devastating cuts in funding for MS research, layoffs in every major governmental agency that impacts our healthcare, including the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, CDC, Health and Human Services,…

1
Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Kristine Werner Ozug 18:36

2M ago18:36

18:36

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Kristine Werner Ozug lives with MS and, full disclosure, she's a member of the Real…

1
Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Emanuelle Waubant 9:26

2M ago9:26

9:26

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Emanuelle Waubant is a neurologist who specializes in treating patients with MS…

1
Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Mikael Simons 7:46

2M ago7:46

7:46

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Mikael Simons is a neurologist and researcher at Technical University Munich an…

1
Bonus: An ACTRIMS Conversation with Dr. Daniel Reich 6:04

2M ago6:04

6:04

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Daniel Reich is a neurologist and neuroradiologist. He is the Director of the T…

1
Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Christina Azevedo 8:27

2M ago8:27

8:27

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Christina Azevedo is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of S…

1
Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Peter Calabresi 6:22

2M ago6:22

6:22

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Peter Calabresi is the Director of the Division of Neuroimmunology and the Dire…

1
Episode 393: MS Awareness Week with Case Jernigan and Suni Conway 37:43

2M ago37:43

37:43

It's MS Awareness Week, and the National MS Society is asking everyone in the MS community to tell MS exactly what they think of it. We're kicking off MS Awareness Week by introducing you to two difference-makers in the MS community who have each found their own way of talking back to MS. Case Jernigan is an experimental animator, narrative gamemak…

1
Season 4, Episode 6: Sophie de Grouchy's Moral Philosophy: Interview with Getty Lustila 36:41

3M ago36:41

36:41

Welcome to this episode of the podcast. Today, we’re discussing the work of Sophie de Grouchy, an 18th and early 19th century philosopher whose contributions to moral and political thought have often been overlooked. Best known for her translation of Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Grouchy didn’t just translate—she developed her own id…

1
An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Nara Michaelson 7:16

3M ago7:16

7:16

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Nara Michaelson is a Multiple Sclerosis Fellow at Harvard's Massachusetts Gener…

1
An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Darin Okuda 11:23

3M ago11:23

11:23

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Darin Okuda is the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Imagi…

1
Episode 392: From the 2025 ACTRIMS Forum with Dr. Lilyana Amezcua and Dr. John Corboy 23:22

3M ago23:22

23:22

Last week, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents arrived in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. I'm kicking off our coverage of this important conference by sharing two of the conversations I had a…

1
Introduction to Nara by Tze Yeung Ho 16:47

3M ago16:47

16:47

Composer Tze Yeung Ho gives an insight in to the story, motivation and process of the making of his new opera Nara – imperial decline, belonging, and composing in a «third space» all feature in this behind the scenes conversation with artistic director Peter Meanwell. Nara premieres 12th March 2025, at Borealis – a festival for experimental music i…

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Episode 391: Choosing the Right Mobility Device with Dr. Evan Cohen 32:26

3M ago32:26

32:26

MS can limit your ability to get around and do the things you like to do. And when that happens, the right mobility device can be a game-changer when it comes to staying safe, staying active, and improving your quality of life. This week, Dr. Evan Cohen joins me to discuss how to know when it's time to consider a mobility device, and how to choose …

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Special Episode: A Consensus Paper on Smoldering MS with Dr. Antonio Scalfari 21:19

3M ago21:19

21:19

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by Sanofi. By now, you may have come across the term smoldering MS and wondered what it means. An international panel of MS experts has published a consensus statement on the definition, biology, and clinical implications of smoldering MS. Joining me is the lead author of that paper, Dr. Antonio Scal…

1
Episode 390: Managing MS Pain with Dr. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman 30:49

3M ago30:49

30:49

More than half of the people living with MS live with pain. And, too often, the distraction and discomfort of MS-related pain can stop you from fully engaging in every aspect of your life. Dr. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman joins me to discuss treatment options for managing MS pain. Dr. Weinstock-Guttman is a neurologist and professor of neurology at the…

1
Episode 389: Overcoming the Stigma of MS with Denise Schnieders and Fox Rigney 34:17

3M ago34:17

34:17

Living your best life with MS means learning to overcome the stigma of having a disability, successfully navigating social relationships, and learning how to ask for and accept help. Joining me to share their perspectives and their experiences in overcoming some of these social obstacles are Denise Schnieders, who was diagnosed with MS just about a…

1
Episode 388: Understanding Gut Health and MS with Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam 37:08

4M ago37:08

37:08

When we talk about myelin damage, most of us typically think of the brain. After all, that myelin is located in your central nervous system. But the inflammation that causes myelin damage may be triggered by activity that's taking place well south of your central nervous system, in your gut microbiome, the colony of trillions of bacteria and microo…

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Episode 387: Inside the TEAAMS Study with Ashli and Victoria 34:28

4M ago34:28

34:28

The TEAAMS study examines the effects of a remotely delivered, racially-tailored exercise training program among African-Americans with MS, who are living in low-income areas of the Southeastern United States, which is a part of the country that doesn't have many primary care or MS clinics that provide full exercise and rehabilitation services for …

1
Episode 386: When to Seek Immediate Medical Care for MS with Dr. Kalina Sanders 33:13

4M ago33:13

33:13

MS symptoms can worsen, and relapses can occur. And when that happens, how do you know whether you require immediate medical care? When is it time to go to the hospital? Dr. Kalina Sanders joins me to talk about when it's time to seek immediate medical care for MS. Dr. Sanders is a board-certified neurologist who specializes in multiple sclerosis a…

1
Season 4, Episode 5: Literature and moral philosophy: Interview with Lauren Kopajtic 40:09

4M ago40:09

40:09

In this episode, we are happy to welcome Lauren Kopajtic, whose work explores the profound connection between literature and moral philosophy. Lauren shares her insights into how novels and plays—from the works of Joanna Baillie to Jane Austen—stimulate moral imagination and contribute to moral education. Together, we discuss key ideas like “sympat…

1
Bonus Episode: Understanding Healthcare Provider Burnout -- How Patients and HCPs Can Work Together to Support Each Other 11:47

4M ago11:47

11:47

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and is only intended for a U.S. audience. EMD Serono is the healthcare business of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the United States and Canada. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, Dr. Mary Rensel and Amanda Montague join me to explore HCP (Healthcare Provider) burnout and patie…

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Episode 385: A New Year Means New Benefits for Many People Affected by MS 30:43

4M ago30:43

30:43

The new year brings with it several significant benefits for many people affected by MS. We're reviewing how the nearly 400,000 people with MS who rely on Medicare for their health insurance will save thousands of dollars, how people with MS who currently have medical debt will see a big improvement on their credit report, and how people who fly wi…

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Episode 384: Behavioral and Lifestyle Risk Factors for MS with Dr. Jared Bruce and Dr. Amanda Bruce 33:45

5M ago33:45

33:45

There are genetic risks associated with MS, there are demographic risks of experiencing a more severe disease course, and there are also behavioral and lifestyle risks that will increase the chance that someone will be diagnosed with MS. Joining me today to discuss behavioral and lifestyle MS risk factors and how they can be mitigated are Doctor Ja…

1
Episode 383: Revisiting ECTRIMS 2024 with Dr. Bruce Bebo and Kristine Werner Ozug 28:24

5M ago28:24

28:24

One of the most important MS research events every year is the annual European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS Scientific Congress, usually referred to by its acronym, ECTRIMS. You've made our podcast episode that followed ECTRIMS the most downloaded episode of the year. So, this week, I'm revisiting the two conversations that I had imme…

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Episode 382: Revisiting Women's Health Issues and MS with Dr. Anna Shah and Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl 33:48

5M ago33:48

33:48

The holiday season provides me with an opportunity to indulge in what's become a RealTalk MS tradition. I reserve the last two episodes of the year to revisit the most compelling and important conversations that I've had over the past year. This week, I'm revisiting two conversations I had with two experts on MS and women's health issues. MS affect…

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Episode 381: Measuring Your MS Disease Status? There's an Evidence-Based App for That! with Dr. Charisse Lichtman 32:24

5M ago32:24

32:24

There's an alarming shortage of neurologists in the United States. That shortage makes it hard to be seen by a neurologist and, in some regions of the U.S., you may not even find an MS specialist without having to travel hundreds of miles. The good news is now there's an app for that! Joining me to talk about how an app called BeCare is already cha…

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Episode 380: Thriving in Cold Weather with MS with Dr. Lisa Doggett 27:44

6M ago27:44

27:44

If you're living with MS, you've probably already learned that hot weather, hot baths, or anything that causes your body temperature to increase can quickly cause your symptoms to worsen. But winter can also be a challenging time. Less daylight, frigid temperatures, ice, and snow can all have an impact on MS. Dr. Lisa Doggett returns to the podcast…

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Special Episode: Aging with MS with Dr. Leorah Freeman 20:01

6M ago20:01

20:01

Disease-modifying therapies work, and, as a result, people with MS are living longer. With half the MS population over the age of 55, it's never been more urgent to understand how the process of aging impacts MS and how MS impacts the process of aging. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, Dr. Leorah Freeman discusses the many factors associated …

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Episode 379: The Pros and Cons of Participating in MS Research with Dr. Kathy Zackowski and Mimi Brown 31:28

6M ago31:28

31:28

More effective treatments and even cures for MS can only happen as a result of clinical research. And clinical research can only happen when people living with MS choose to become research participants. But what are the pros and cons that you should consider when you're thinking about participating in MS research? The National MS Society's Associat…

1
Episode 378: An MS Care Partners Roundtable with Barbara, Marina, Matt, and Maiya 34:55

6M ago34:55

34:55

Too often, care partners remain invisible as they deal with the emotional, physical, and even financial burdens that go along with supporting a loved one who's living with multiple sclerosis. November is National Family Caregivers Month, and I'm devoting this entire episode to a roundtable discussion with four remarkable care partners as they share…

1
Episode 377: The Art of Hope with Lydia Emily 36:22

6M ago36:22

36:22

There are some people who, once you meet them, it's impossible to forget them. They seem to leave an indelible impression. Lydia Emily is one of those people. Whether it's through her art that occasionally escapes the canvas to be expressed as massive urban murals proclaiming End MS, or through her outspoken MS advocacy. Lydia Emily is a force. Now…

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Season 4, Episode 4: Catharine Trotter Cockburn's Moral Philosophy: Interview with Ruth Boeker 39:04

6M ago39:04

39:04

In this interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Ruth Boeker, a leading scholar in early modern philosophy, focusing on the often-overlooked contributions of women philosophers. The discussion centers around Catharine Trotter Cockburn, an influential moral philosopher from the early modern period. Dr. Boeker will introduce us to Cockbur…

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Special Episode: Pregnancy and MS with Dr. Riley Bove 21:17

6M ago21:17

21:17

MS affects almost 3 times as many women as men, often affecting women of childbearing age. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, Dr. Riley Bove answers some of the important questions about the impact of MS on a woman's pregnancy and the impact of pregnancy on a woman's MS. This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by Viatris. SHARE THIS E…

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Episode 376: Adding Dance, Music, and Art Therapy to Your MS Treatment Plan with Dr. Francois Bethoux 33:18

6M ago33:18

33:18

On this podcast, we tend to talk a lot about new technologies, emerging treatments, the most recently approved disease-modifying therapies, and even some DMTs that haven't yet been approved. And in the midst of all that cutting-edge research and evolving science, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that expressive therapies like dance and movement …

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Episode 375: Managing Teenage MS with Dr. Ann Yeh 32:47

7M ago32:47

32:47

Being a teenager is hard. So, imagine for a moment that in addition to everything else that teenagers have to endure, you're a teenager who's been diagnosed with MS. Your ability to participate in after-school activities or just hang out with your friends is impacted by MS-related fatigue. The typical adolescent anxiety over something someone poste…

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Episode 374: Grieving When You're Living With MS with Dr. Holly Hendin 37:01

7M ago37:01

37:01

Learning to live with MS is learning to live with loss. For some, those losses may be minor and seem relatively insignificant. For others, those losses can be huge and life-altering. The definition of grief is an emotional response to a significant loss. It's not unusual to grieve over those things in your life that have been lost due to MS. In fac…

1
Episode 373: ECTRIMS Research Roundup Part 2 with Dr. Bruce Bebo 27:45

7M ago27:45

27:45

Now that he's had a chance to digest all of the research presented at ECTRIMS, Dr. Bruce Bebo, the National MS Society's Executive Vice President of Research, is back to share the key research presented at the largest MS research conference in the world. This episode of RealTalk MS is the perfect follow-up to my initial conversation with Bruce, whi…

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Ruth And Kristin Podcasts

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