MSAA Podcast: Recent Episodes
Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
The MSAA Podcast shares information, insight, and valuable resources from top medical professionals, MSAA staff members, and more with the goal to educate and spread awareness about MS.
What does it mean to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in your 20s—a decade often defined by independence, identity, and discovery? In the first episode of The MS Journey: Stories and Strategies for Women Across the Decades, patient advocate Stephanie shares her personal experience navigating diagnosis and identity, alongside insights from neurologist Dr. Mitzi Williams, Co-Chair of MSAA’s African American Advisory Council, on managing MS at the start of adulthood.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “Rebuilding the Continuum of MS Care.” Hosted by Kimberlee Baugh, Manager of Health Education and Equity at MSAA, this episode addresses how understanding the barriers to MS care in one state in the country, Arizona, reflects the national landscape of anyone impacted by multiple sclerosis. Our guests are Barry Hendin, MD – an MS specialist and MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer – and Tina Brown, a patient advocate living with MS. During this episode, our host and guests discuss recognizing the importance of early diagnosis, share practical solutions to common barriers in MS care, and explore ways stakeholders can work together to improve outcomes for people affected by MS. This program is made possible through the generous support of Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, and Sanofi. This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III). For more information on MSAA’s programs and services for the MS community, please visit mymsaa.org. MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “Beyond the Chart: Strengthening Self-Advocacy Through Communication – PART 2” as the second and final in a two-part series. Hosted by Shelby Bassili of MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2026 MS Awareness Month theme – Your MS, Your Voice: The Power of Self-Advocacy. Our guests once again are Annette Howard, MD and patient advocate Kate Durack, MPS. Dr. Howard is the Medical Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Institute of Texas in Houston and a member of MSAA’s African American Advisory Board. Kate serves as Director of MSIN Communication & Patient Focus at MSAA and was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago. In this final episode in our series, “Beyond the Chart,” you will hear the conclusion of the chat with our esteemed guests, where Dr. Howard and Kate dive into what happens after the doctor’s appointment and how to keep the conversation going between visits – and beyond the chart.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
For a transcript of this program, please click here.
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “Beyond the Chart: Strengthening Self-Advocacy Through Communication – PART 1” as the first in a two-part series. Hosted by Shelby Bassili of MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2026 MS Awareness Month theme – Your MS, Your Voice: The Power of Self-Advocacy. Our guests are Annette Howard, MD and patient advocate Kate Durack, MPS. Dr. Howard is the Medical Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Institute of Texas in Houston and a member of MSAA’s African American Advisory Board. Kate serves as Director of MSIN Communication & Patient Focus at MSAA and was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago. This initial episode highlights practical ways patients can ensure their voices are heard beyond what’s written in the chart and what actually helps create meaningful human connection between patients and their healthcare providers.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
For a transcript of this program, please click here.
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “Relationships and MS.” Hosted by Kate Durack, Director of MSIN Communication and Patient Focus at MSAA, this episode addresses how MS has a way of shifting the dynamic when it comes to relationships with others. Our guest is Kimberly Castelo, PhD, a licensed therapist living with MS. During this episode, our host and guest discuss both clinical insights and real-world strategies to foster communication, strengthen emotional connection, and cope with the complex realities of love, intimacy, and support in the face of a chronic illness like MS.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
For a transcript of this program, please click here.
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “Understanding Co-Pay Accumulator Programs: What You Need to Know” – a topic that affects access to vital medications for many people, including those living with MS. Hosted by Emily Ottaggio of MSAA, we are joined by two experts in their respective fields who share their insights into how these programs work and the real-world implications for access to medications and care. Our guests are Stephanie Spence, PharmD, CSP; and Barry Hendin, MD, whose discussions we hope will provide a better understanding of these complex programs. Dr. Spence is a Certified Specialty Pharmacist who has worked with both pharmacies and doctors for more than two decades. Dr. Hendin, MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer, is an MS specialist, neurologist, and Director of the Arizona Integrated Neurology MS Center, among other credentials.
Please know that these conversations are for educational and informational purposes only. This program was made possible through the generous support of Pfizer.
For a transcript of this program, please click here.
Para obtener una transcripción de este programa en español, haga clic aquí.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “Motherhood and MS” as part of our Family Planning with MS series. Hosted by Kate Durack, Director of MSIN Communication and Patient Focus at MSAA, this episode touches on what it is really like to navigate motherhood while living with MS. Our guests are Lisa Doggett, MD, MPH, FAAFP, DipABLM; and Alyx Rossi, FNP-B. Lisa is a family and lifestyle medicine physician, author, and mother of two daughters who has been living with MS since 2009. Alyx is a neurology nurse practitioner and MS and neuro-immunology specialist with a special interest in women’s health and who is also a mother of four. During this episode, our host and guests talk about postpartum challenges, ongoing fatigue, and what exactly is “mom guilt” – all while also touching on the joy in motherhood and redefining motherhood in a way that is both healthy and realistic.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
For a transcript of this program, please click here.
Para obtener una transcripción de este programa en español, haga clic aquí.
Other resources mentioned in this episode:
- MSAA Helpline – Phone: (800) 532-7667, extension 154, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Eastern.
- My MSAA Community – MSAA’s free online forum
- Previous videos on Family Planning with MS – see ”Lifestyles and Meeting the Challenges” section at MSi Online Videos
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “If I Knew Then: Reflecting on an MS Diagnosis – PART 3” as the third and final in a three-part series. Hosted by Kate Durack, Director of Communication and Patient Focus with MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2025 MS Awareness Month theme – Empowered from the Start with MSAA. Our guests once again are Claude, Anita, and Lizette – a group of people living with multiple sclerosis who share their personal experiences of when they were diagnosed with MS. In this final episode in the series, you will hear the conclusion of the discussion with this panel of guests as they share more about how they have navigated their own MS journey since their diagnosis, including the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of an MS diagnosis.
For a transcript of this program, please click here.
Para obtener una transcripción de este programa en español, haga clic aquí.
To listen to Part 1 in this series, click here. To listen to Part 2, click here.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “If I Knew Then: Reflecting on an MS Diagnosis – PART 2” as the second in a three-part series. Hosted by Kate Durack, Director of Communication and Patient Focus with MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2025 MS Awareness Month theme – Empowered from the Start with MSAA. Our guests are a group of people living with multiple sclerosis who share their personal experiences of when they were diagnosed with MS: Claude, Anita, and Lizette. In this episode, you’ll hear the first part of a roundtable discussion where our panel shares the lessons they’ve learned, the challenges they’ve faced, and what they wish they had known when they were first diagnosed.
For a transcript of this program, please click here.
Para obtener una transcripción de este programa en español, haga clic aquí.
To listen to Part 1 in this series, click here. To listen to Part 3, click here.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “If I Knew Then: Reflecting on an MS Diagnosis – PART 1” as the first in a three-part series. Hosted by Kate Durack, Director of Communication and Patient Focus with MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2025 MS Awareness Month theme – Empowered from the Start with MSAA. Our guest, MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer Barry Hendin, MD, is a neurologist and Director of the Arizona Integrated Neurology MS Center, among other credentials. In this episode, Dr. Hendin discusses important areas to focus on for individuals who are newly diagnosed with MS, how to communicate with one’s healthcare team, and the importance of emotional well-being.
For a transcript of this program, please click here.
Para obtener una transcripción de este programa en español, haga clic aquí.
To listen to Part 2 in this series, click here. To listen to Part 3, click here.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “Social Interactions and Connections” as the third and final one in a three-part series entitled “Finding Joy in the Process: Managing Mental Health in the MS Journey.” This program is part of MSAA’s 2024 MS Awareness Month theme – Improving Lives Through Supportive Connections. Our guest, Amy B. Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP, is a behavioral medicine specialist and an Associate Professor of Medicine along with being the Director of Behavioral Medicine & Research at the Mellen Center for MS. In this episode, Dr. Sullivan discusses how MS impacts daily routines, relationships, and social life and the benefit of social interactions and connections when someone is managing mental health and MS.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
To listen to Part 1, click here. To listen to Part 2, click here.
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “The Power of Positive Thinking” as the second in a three-part series entitled “Finding Joy in the Process: Managing Mental Health in the MS Journey.” This program is part of MSAA’s 2024 MS Awareness Month theme – Improving Lives Through Supportive Connections. Our guest, Amy B. Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP, is a behavioral medicine specialist and an Associate Professor of Medicine along with being the Director of Behavioral Medicine & Research at the Mellen Center for MS. In this episode, Dr. Sullivan speaks about coming to terms with living with MS and how using positivity as a coping strategy could improve one’s quality of life.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
To listen to Part 1, click here. To listen to Part 3, click here.
For a transcript of this program, please click here
Para obtener una transcripción de este programa en español, haga clic aquí.
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “Mental Health and MS” as the first in a three-part series entitled “Finding Joy in the Process: Managing Mental Health in the MS Journey.” This program is part of MSAA’s 2024 MS Awareness Month theme – Improving Lives Through Supportive Connections. Our guest, Amy B. Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP, is a behavioral medicine specialist and an Associate Professor of Medicine along with being the Director of Behavioral Medicine & Research at the Mellen Center for MS. In this episode, Dr. Sullivan discusses such issues as common symptoms that impact mental health, advice for someone that might be experiencing a mental health challenge, and strategies that could help to cope with mental health in one’s MS journey.
This episode was produced and recorded at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ. Music provided by The New Anxiety (Tim Recuber and John Masino III).
For a transcript of this program, please click here.
Para obtener una transcripción de este programa en español, haga clic aquí.
To listen to Part 2, click here. To listen to Part 3, click here.
MSAA strives to provide useful, up-to-date information, on matters of concern to MS patients and their families. This material is intended for general informational purposes only, and it does not constitute medical advice. You should not use the information presented as a means of diagnosis or for determining treatment. For diagnosis and treatment options, you are urged to consult your physician.
Featuring Dr. William Conte, MD, MS In this webinar, Dr. Conte leads a conversation about living with MS as an LGBTQ+ individual and how an MS diagnosis and exploration of identity interplay with one another. Dr. Conte describes the differences between sexuality and gender identity, candidly discusses health disparities among the LGBTQIA+ community, summarizes how gender-affirming hormone therapy affects those living with MS, and summarizes factors that influence disease-modifying therapy (DMT) selection.
For a transcript of this program, please click here.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode on “Young Adults Living with MS.” Hosted by Yahaira Rivera, Director of Mission Delivery and Program Development for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2023 MS Awareness Month theme – Life with MS: Different Stages of the Journey. Our guest, Nuriel Moghavem, MD, is a neurologist and MS fellow at Keck School of Medicine at USC in Los Angeles, California, where he was born and raised. In this episode, Dr. Moghavem discusses how it is important to learn to live your best life with multiple sclerosis if you are newly diagnosed as a young adult.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode on “Navigating the Pediatric MS Journey.” Hosted by Marie LeGrand, Associate Vice President of Mission Delivery, Health Equity and Education for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2023 MS Awareness Month theme – Life with MS: Different Stages of the Journey. Our first guest, Yolanda Wheeler, PhD, CRNP, CPNP-AC, MSCN, is an assistant professor and nurse researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing, as well as a member of MSAA’s Healthcare Advisory Council and African American Advisory Board. Our second guest, Elena McDaniel, is a parent of a child with MS. In this episode, Dr. Wheeler and Elena explore pediatric MS and how that affects children and teens and also what parents and guardians should know and consider when talking to their healthcare providers.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode on the “3 M’s of MS: Mangia, Microbiome, and Molecules.” Hosted by Alexis Crispino Kline, Director of Mission Delivery and Grants Management for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2022 MS Awareness Month theme: Shaping the MS Experience. Our guest, Andrew Woo, MD, PhD, is a private practice neurologist at Santa Monica Neurological Consultants and an MSAA Board Member. In this episode, Dr. Woo shares his thoughts on what he calls the “3 M’s of MS: Mangia, Microbiome, and Molecules” by discussing supplements and diets that have been studied or claimed to help MS, as well as other related autoimmune conditions.
With so many MS disease-modifying therapies to consider, it can be overwhelming to choose what might be the best therapy for your specific MS disease course. In this podcast episode, we’ll chat with MS specialist Dr. Barry Singer, Director and Founder of The MS Center for Innovations in Care and MSAA Board Member, about key considerations healthcare providers make in consultation with their patients to determine the best possible treatment course.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode on “Caring for the Care Partner.” Hosted by Peter Damiri, Senior Director of Content Development for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2021 MS Awareness Month theme: Improving Mental Health and Wellness. Our returning guest Dr. Amy Sullivan is a Board Certified, Staff Clinical Health Psychologist and the Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Sullivan talks about the often overlooked but important physical and emotional needs of care partners and provides practical tips and suggestions on ways to avoid care partner burnout.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode on “Better Symptom Management through Wellness.” Hosted by Peter Damiri, Vice President of Programs and Services for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2020 MS Awareness Month theme: The Mind, Body, and MS Connection. Our guests Mary Rensel, MD and Amy Sullivan, PsyD of the Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for MS talk about brain health and provide helpful strategies to improve MS care through nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and overall healthy living. Dr. Rensel is an MS neurologist and Director of the Wellness Program, and Dr. Sullivan is a psychologist and Director of Behavioral Medicine, Research and Training.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode on “A Little is a Lot When Exercising with MS.” Hosted by Andrea Griffin, Vice President of Communications and Marketing for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2020 MS Awareness Month theme: The Mind, Body, and MS Connection. Our guest, physical therapist Brian Hutchinson, shares his insights on the importance of exercise and physical activity in managing MS. Brian is an MS-certified specialist and the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center in Sacramento, California.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode on ““The Impact of Nutrition in Multiple Sclerosis.” Hosted by Peter Damiri, Vice President of Programs and Services for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s series on MS and the Family, spotlighting healthy lifestyle and wellness activities. Our guest, Dr. Olga Thon, shares her insights on popular vitamins and supplements, various diets that affect MS, and suggestions for effective exercises and overall wellness strategies to help better manage multiple sclerosis. Dr. Thon is the director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode on “The Many Faces of MS.” Hosted by Peter Damiri, Vice President of Programs and Services for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s series on MS and the Family, spotlighting the topic of diversity within MS. Our guest, Dr. EJ Gettings, shares his insights on multiple sclerosis and its impact on various patient populations. Dr. Gettings is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Temple University in Philadelphia.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast on “Spotlighting Care Partner Needs.” This program is part of MSAA’s 2019 MS Awareness Month campaign on MS and the Family, spotlighting the topic of Care Partners and MS. Our guest, Lara Krawchuk, MSW, LCSW, MPH, shares her insights as well as resources and tips for care partners. Ms. Krawchuk is a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and wellness educator.
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast on “Exploring Relationships.” This program is part of MSAA’s 2019 MS Awareness Month campaign on MS and the Family, spotlighting the topic of Relationships and MS. Our guest, Miriam Franco, MSW, PsyD, MSCS, shares her expertise and insights on fostering healthy relationships for couples living with MS. Dr. Franco is a psychologist, social worker, certified guided imagery practitioner, and a multiple sclerosis specialist.