MSAA Podcast

What does it mean to live with multiple sclerosis in your 40s – a decade often marked by career stability, changing family dynamics, long-term planning, and a deeper understanding of life with MS?  The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present the third episode of “The MS Journey: Stories and Strategies for Women Across the Decades,” exploring how MS intersects with the opportunities, responsibilities, and personal growth that often define this stage of life.

What does it mean to live with multiple sclerosis in your 30s – a decade often marked by career growth, relationships, family planning, and increasing responsibilities? The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present the second episode of “The MS Journey: Stories and Strategies for Women Across the Decades,”exploring how MS can intersect with the opportunities, challenges, and life transitions that often shape this stage of adulthood.

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 more information on MSAA’s programs and services for the MS community, please visit mymsaa.org.

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.