Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

In this episode of Living Well with MS, we meet adaptive world champion athlete Francis Loye, a Northern Ireland-based father of three who lives with MS.   Francis was diagnosed in 2021 after experiencing symptoms on a cycling holiday. Since then, he has transformed his life: following the Overcoming MS program, connecting deeply with community, and competing at the very highest level in hybrid and adaptive sport. From the Hyrox World Championships to the gruelling Mallorca 312 endurance race, Francis has shown what’s possible when determination meets lifestyle-led wellness.   This conversation is full of honesty and inspiration – whether you’re newly diagnosed, returning to exercise, or curious about what adaptive sport looks like in practice.   Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics and timestamps.  Topics and timestamps 00:43 Francis’s MS journey: diagnosis, fear, acceptance and choosing empowerment  04:17 Discovering Overcoming MS: a lifeline of hope  06:23 Discovering the power of community  07:59 Adapting lifestyle: challenges and triumphs  11:04 Family health: balancing MS and parenting  13:40 The Retreat experience: vulnerability and connection  16:32 Understanding hybrid and adaptive athletics  20:01 Training regimen: balancing endurance and strength  25:29 Winning the Hyrox World Championships  29:19 Diet and nutrition: balancing performance and health  31:38 Advice for the newly diagnosed: finding peace and community  More info and links Connect with Francis on Instagram  Francis was on the Overcoming MS Webinar Physical Activity and MS  Learn more about Joe Dispenza’s work  Check out the Hyrox adaptive divisions  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 [email protected]. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

In this episode of Living Well with MS, Dr Jonathan White is joined by Dr Stephen Simpson-Yap, Senior Research Fellow at the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) in Melbourne, Senior Research Fellow at the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) in Melbourne, focusing on multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune conditions. Together they unpack the complex relationship between diet and MS: why diet research is so challenging, what the current evidence tells us, how different MS diet programmes compare, and where the science is heading next. Steve explains how epidemiologists study diet, what makes high-quality research so difficult, and why large, long-term studies like HOLISM and the UK MS Register are so important to people with MS. This episode is a webinar highlights special – originally recorded as a live Overcoming MS webinar and now edited for the podcast to bring you the key insights, questions and takeaways in one place. You can watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics and timestamps. Topics and timestamps 01:53 How diet might influence MS risk, progression and disability 04:24 Why diet research is so hard 07:31 Inside a diet study – what it really takes to measure what people eat 11:27 Comparing MS diets (Overcoming MS, Whals, Best Bet, and more.) 15:06 How researchers actually study diet in MS 24:54 What we know so far Key findings from existing diet studies, 28:02 The future of diet research for MS and how large data sets could change everything 33:35 What this means for people with MS   More info and links Learn more about the NEU Read NEU research papers about MS Hear more research in S3E11 NEU: What’s on the research horizon with Associate Professor Sandra Neate 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 [email protected]. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

In this episode of the Living Well with MS podcast we continue the discussion on diet as a key pillar of the Overcoming MS Program, and how to integrate the Overcoming MS diet dos and don’ts into one’s daily routine with nutritional therapist and Overcoming MS Facilitator Sam Josephs as our guest. Topics and timestamps: 01:25 Getting started with the Overcoming MS diet  05:41 Is fasting worth trying?  06:04 The 5:2 diet for fast-mimicking effect   10:54 Is there a connection between gluten and multiple sclerosis?  17:18 Tips on making cooking easier for people following the Overcoming MS diet  More info and links: Part 1 of ‘The OMS Diet in a Nutshell’ is also available here Learn more about diet as a key pillar of the Overcoming MS program  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, please support the ongoing work and podcasts from Overcoming MS by leaving a donation here. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast that empowers you to take control of your health and wellbeing.  In this episode we welcome Jack McNulty, professional cook and longtime follower of the Overcoming MS Program. Jack tackles plant-based recipe substitutions, answering community questions and sharing practical advice to help you adapt your favourite recipes while following the Overcoming MS diet. Keep reading for the topics and timestamps. Topics and timestamps 01:00 Introduction to cooking with MS 01:44 Understanding the Overcoming MS diet pillar 03:47 Substituting dairy: a functional approach 10:33 Exploring vegan butter alternatives 15:35 The complexity of egg substitutes 25:09 Meat alternatives: flavour and texture 37:12 Replacing coconut milk in recipes 39:48 Buttermilk substitutes and cooking oils 45:15 Using cashew cream and final thoughts More info and links Listen to the other Ask Jack episodes Connect with Jack at Vegan Weekly Read the Overcoming MS books including the cookbook and handbook Listen to Karen Lee’s episodes on the Overcoming MS diet</li 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, please support the ongoing work and podcasts from Overcoming MS by leaving a donation here. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

What does it take to live well with MS for more than 40 years? For professor and theatre maker David Peimer, the answer lies in resilience, curiosity, and transforming anger into creative energy. In this powerful and deeply reflective episode of Living Well with MS, David shares how he went from being given just four years to live to building a successful global career – teaching, directing, and writing award-winning plays – while following the Overcoming MS Program. With honesty and humour, David explores how diet, stress management, and self-understanding helped him rebuild his health and his life. His story is a testament to hope, perseverance, and the belief that, even when faced with MS, we can learn to surf the wave rather than be swept away by it. Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the topics and timestamps and David’s bio. Topics and timestamps 02:02  David’s early MS journey and life-changing diagnosis06:09  Facing paralysis, fear, and the turning point that sparked hope11:48  How reading Judy Graham and following the Swank diet changed everything17:43  Managing stress and anger: finding calm in chaos23:16  Inside the Copaxone trial: early experiences with MS treatment29:19  Rebuilding purpose through creativity and compassion34:51  The power of community and connection40:10  David’s advice for anyone newly diagnosed More info and links Learn about Judy Graham and her books The history of Copaxone, the first DMT for MS Learn more about David’s work 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, please support the ongoing work and podcasts from Overcoming MS by leaving a donation here. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.