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Living Well with Multiple SclerosisAuthor: Overcoming MS
Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast from the Overcoming MS charity. In each episode, your host Geoff Allix explores a different aspect of the Overcoming MS Program in greater depth by talking with experts and people with MS about health lifestyle changes. New episodes are published on Wednesdays and feature interviews with scientists, neurologists, fitness specialists, diet experts, stress reduction professionals. The podcast also features inspirational, real-life stories from people with multiple sclerosis following the Overcoming MS program, about the challenges and victories of managing symptoms through lifestyle modification. Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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The Research on Lifestyle and MS with Rachel Johnson and Dr Jonny White | S8E1
Episode 1
Wednesday, 7 January, 2026
In this episode of Living Well with MS, Alex Holden (Chief Executive of Overcoming MS) is joined by Rachel Johnson, Overcoming MS’s Information and Research Manager, and Dr Jonathan White, the charity’s Medical Advisor and Program Facilitator. Together they explore what the latest evidence says about lifestyle and self-management in MS – and why it’s an increasingly exciting time for MS research and treatment. They also share what Overcoming MS is working on in 2026, including improved evaluation of our programmes, new symptom-focused resources, and progress towards achieving the PIF TICK quality mark for trusted health information. Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio. 01:56 Meet Rachel Johnson: background in psychology, research methods and why she joined Overcoming MS 04:04 Jonny’s role and why sharing research clearly (and credibly) matters 05:33 Rachel’s priorities: improving information quality and evaluating impact 07:16 Supporting healthcare professionals to signpost trusted lifestyle resources 09:06 What’s coming up in 2026: evaluation findings, information strategy and symptom-based resources 11:05 Jonny’s 2026 highlights: Pathways, retreats and the BSLM lifestyle medicine module 14:24 How the Overcoming MS programme aligns with the latest lifestyle research 16:57 Making the programme practical: diet quality, Mediterranean-style eating and “big picture” habits 18:54 Talking to your MS team about lifestyle: confidence, language, and keeping your agenda clear 23:05 Why robust evaluation matters: pre-post surveys, validated measures and long-term follow-up 27:31 Getting involved in research: MS Register, university studies and opportunities shared via the Hub 31:41 What is PIF TICK and why it matters for trustworthy MS lifestyle information 36:04 What’s exciting in MS research right now: treatments, progressive MS, and novel therapies 40:13 Why credibility and clear communication are key to shifting the “no evidence” narrative More info and links: Listen to the Talking with Skeptics webinar with Jonny and Yasmin Neves Tell your health team about Overcoming MS resources for healthcare professionals Sign up for the next free Pathway to Overcoming MS course Join the MS Register in the UK New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub Visit the Overcoming MS website Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Don’t miss out: Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here. Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.
