RealTalk MS
Navigating multiple sclerosis is easier when you understand the science behind it. Join host Jon Strum each week as he translates complex MS research, treatment breakthroughs, and healthcare news into clear, accessible language. Whether you’re living with MS, caring for a loved one, or looking for answers, RealTalk MS connects you with top neuroscientists, advocates, and the information and insights that matter most to your MS journey.
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Your Resource for MS News, Views, Interviews, and Breakthroughs
Informative. Inspirational. Motivational.
"RealTalk MS sets the standard for all MS-related podcasts. Informative. Inspirational. Motivational. Jon Strum is the quintessential host who pulls everything together and delivers it all in a flawless 30-minute package. Listeners get all the MS information they need to know and are virtually connected to the people who are working to improve the lives of others living with MS."
---An actual RealTalk MS listener
Take the Conversation Anywhere:
Introducing the New RealTalk MS App!
The official RealTalk MS mobile app is here! Designed to give you seamless, on-the-go access to the latest multiple sclerosis research, news, and community discussions, our app makes staying informed easier than ever.
Key Features:
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Never Miss an Episode: Set up automatic downloads so the newest episodes are ready when you are.
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Save Your Favorites: Bookmark and easily revisit the discussions and interviews that matter most to you.
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Search the Archive: Quickly find topics and experts by searching through hundreds of past episodes.
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Exclusive Bonus Content: Access app-only extras, extended interviews, and special resources you won't find anywhere else.
Recent Episodes
473
Sept. 21, 2026
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 i
472
Sept. 14, 2026
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
471
Sept. 7, 2026
Episode 471: Navigating an MS Relapse with Dr. F. Gabriela Karolidis
Relapses make life with MS unpredictable. Understanding what they are, why they happen, and how best to manage them can make a relapse less scary and easier to navigate. This week, Dr. Gabriela Karolidis, a board-certified neurologist and neuroimmunologist at Thomas Jefferson University, joins us for a deep dive into MS relapses. The MS International Federation has just updated the Atlas of MS, showing more than 3 million people living with MS worldwide. We're sharing the details behind the ne
470
Aug. 31, 2026
Episode 470: 42 Marathons in 42 Days with Benji Wilkins
Wise men and women remind us that life is a marathon, and not a sprint. Joining us this week is Benji Wilkins. Benji is a magician in the U.K., and for 42 days this summer, his life was quite literally a marathon. In the process, Benji raised money to help his mom, who lives with MS, and he raised awareness of MS across the U.K. and around the world. We're also sharing results of a study that focused on gait training using a powered exoskeleton for people living with MS. We'll tell you how you
467
Aug. 24, 2026
Episode 469: Maintaining and Even Improving Cognitive Function If You're Living with MS with Dr. Anna Kratz
Cognitive changes in MS—fluctuations in processing speed, memory, and executive function—can significantly impact daily life, yet they're often misunderstood or overlooked in routine clinical exams. This week, we are joined by Dr. Anna Kratz, clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan, to discuss actionable, evidence-based ways to navigate cognitive challenges. Dr. Kratz breaks down the latest findings from the Cog
468
Aug. 17, 2026
Episode 468: You've Been Given a 15% Chance of Living and Your Spouse Gets Diagnosed with MS with Kathleen Silva
Imagine your spouse or significant other has been diagnosed with MS...shortly after you were diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, and given just a 15% chance of survival. All of a sudden, the roles of patient and care partner are up for grabs -- and they change with almost daily frequency. That's exactly the scenario my guest, Kathleen Silva, faced. Kathleen is joining me to discuss how she and her husband, Rick, survived and thrived amid that frightening chaos. (Spoiler alert -- no one died!)
467
Aug. 10, 2026
Episode 467: Making Shared Decision-Making Work with Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman
If you Google the term "shared decision making", you'll find it defined as a collaborative process where patients and clinicians work together to select tests, treatments, and care plans based on clinical evidence and the patient's personal values and goals. But shared decision-making isn't an automatic happy pill. It takes work, it takes discipline, and it takes a clear understanding of both the patient's and the clinician's roles. This week, Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman join me to
466
Aug. 3, 2026
Episode 466: Everything You Ought to Know About Diet and MS with Dr. Tyler Titcomb
We get more listener emails about diet and MS than almost any other topic. If you're curious about how some of the well-known diets for MS actually stack up, or you're interested in understanding the connection between diet and MS-related fatigue, or you want to know what the biggest obstacle to staying on a new diet is (and this may surprise you), then this is the episode for you. We're devoting this week's entire episode to my conversation with Dr. Tyler Titcomb, an assistant professor in the
465
July 27, 2026
Episode 465: On Being an MS Specialist In A Country That Believed MS Was Non-Existent with Dr. Avinash Chandra
During his fellowship in the United States, Dr. Avinash Chandra trained to become an MS specialist at a world-class MS center. Then he returned home to Nepal and discovered that MS was largely considered non-existent. But Dr. Chandra knew it wasn't. In this week's episode, Dr. Chandra discusses his experience creating a framework for MS care in Nepal that hadn't existed before. He also explains the necessary trade-offs in providing costly medical treatment in a country where the average family
464
July 20, 2026
Episode 464: Sharing Her MS Journey Graphically with Liat Shalom
If you've spent any time at all living with or caring for someone with multiple sclerosis, you know that medical textbooks and information-filled websites can give us facts, figures, and symptoms, but they rarely capture the sometimes messy, sometimes overwhelming, and sometimes darkly funny reality of what it actually feels like to get a diagnosis of MS and realize your life has suddenly shifted under your feet. Our guest, Liat Shalom, was diagnosed with MS in 2021, at the age of 30. Instead
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