The Other Side of MS
The Other Side of MS isn’t here to inspire you, it’s here to tell the truth. This podcast gives voice to the raw, unfiltered stories of people living with multiple sclerosis—the ones you rarely hear. Hosted by longtime MS advocate Casey Murphy, each episode pulls back the curtain on the emotional, invisible, and often uncomfortable realities of MS. From navigating public spaces with incontinence, to losing careers, marriages, or mobility, these aren’t just stories of strength—they’re stories of being human. We don’t chase silver linings. We hold space for pain, for humor, for grief, for resilience—and for the voices that deserve to be heard without being sanitized or simplified. If you’re ready for a podcast that doesn’t sugarcoat the experience of living with MS, this is it. This is The Other Side of MS.
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S4_E12: Whitney, Strong Whitney
08/13/2026
S4_E12: Whitney, Strong Whitney
On her birthday, Whitney had to be carried into an MRI. The next day came a phone call with good news and bad news. What followed would leave a personal trainer unable to trust the body she had spent years teaching others to strengthen. Today, Whitney wants people to see the version of her that rides, hikes, speaks publicly, and refuses to let MS define what she can still do. She calls her Strong Whitney. But there is another Whitney she is far less willing to show. What happens when being seen as strong becomes almost as important as actually feeling strong? Donate to Whitney's I Ride with MS: Bike MS Fundraiser https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participants/806581?referrer=mf%3A806581%3Ayou-copy&language=en
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S4_E11: Karen Matingou: The 3 Day Rule
07/30/2026
S4_E11: Karen Matingou: The 3 Day Rule
Karen listened as strangers described what MS was doing to their bodies. The details sounded familiar. Too familiar. For the next month, she told herself she was imagining it. The first neurologist gave her an easier answer. Then another doctor confirmed the one she had been trying not to believe. Karen decided MS would not beat her. But beneath that determination are three days she rarely lets anyone see, a fear she has never left behind, and a question that cuts deeper than any diagnosis: What happens when the person who always took care of everyone else becomes the one who needs help? Donate to Karen’s MS fundraiser: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participants/816829
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S4_E10: Brandon Deen | Don’t Ask How I’m Doing If You’re Not Prepared to Hear the Answer
07/16/2026
S4_E10: Brandon Deen | Don’t Ask How I’m Doing If You’re Not Prepared to Hear the Answer
Brandon Deen knows what it feels like to be asked, "How are you?" without anyone truly wanting the answer. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while already living with PTSD and depression, he found himself navigating not only a chronic illness, but the loneliness of feeling unheard. In this episode of The Other Side of MS, Brandon reflects on what happens when people show up for the diagnosis but disappear during the journey. He talks openly about mental health, military service, relationships, advocacy, and the difference between someone listening and someone truly hearing you. This is a conversation about isolation, finding your voice, and why one simple question, "How are you?" can mean everything when someone is willing to stay for the answer. Support Brandon's Bike MS NYC Fundraiser: If Brandon's story resonated with you, consider supporting his Bike MS NYC fundraising efforts. Every donation helps advance research, advocacy, and programs for people living with multiple sclerosis.
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S4_E9: Bridget Longnecker – Navigating Uncertainty with Resilience
06/25/2026
S4_E9: Bridget Longnecker – Navigating Uncertainty with Resilience
For months, Bridget Longnecker was told her symptoms were anxiety, hormones, or postpartum depression. Meanwhile, she was losing vision, mobility, speech, and trust in herself. In this episode of The Other Side of MS, Bridget shares the reality of searching for answers while being repeatedly dismissed by healthcare providers, the psychological toll of being told it’s all in your head, and the moment she finally received the diagnosis that changed everything. The conversation explores fear, motherhood, invisible illness, self-doubt, and what happens when you begin questioning your own reality because nobody else seems willing to believe it. Bridget also opens up about the lasting emotional impact of MS, the uncertainty that still follows her today, and why stability doesn’t always mean feeling safe inside your own body. This is a conversation about trust, credibility, and the hidden psychological weight of living with a disease that many people never fully see. Support Resource: If Bridget’s perspective on navigating uncertainty, chronic illness, and mental health resonated with you, and you’re in the New Port Richey, Florida area seeking support, you can learn more about her counseling practice at:
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S4_E8: Bill Mooney | The Version That’s Easiest to Celebrate
06/11/2026
S4_E8: Bill Mooney | The Version That’s Easiest to Celebrate
People tell Bill Mooney he handles MS well. But what happens when everyone sees the resilience and almost nobody sees the fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty underneath it? In this episode, Bill talks about the parts of multiple sclerosis that rarely make it into fundraising speeches, awareness campaigns, or everyday conversations. The pressure to stay positive. The fear that never completely leaves. The emotional cost of explaining an invisible disease. This is a conversation about what people celebrate, what they miss, and what it really means to live with MS when the crowd goes home. Support Bill's Mission: If Bill's story resonated with you, consider supporting his Walk MS fundraising efforts. Every donation helps advance research, advocacy, and programs for people living with MS.
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S4_E7: Dr. Mary Hughes — When MS Stops Being Clinical
05/28/2026
S4_E7: Dr. Mary Hughes — When MS Stops Being Clinical
Dr. Mary Hughes has spent decades treating multiple sclerosis, researching it, advocating around it, and helping shape the future of MS care. But long before MS became her professional focus, it became personal. Two of her sisters were diagnosed with the disease nearly thirty years apart, forcing Dr. Hughes to live in the uncomfortable space between neurologist and sister, between clinical expertise and the reality that sometimes even the expert cannot protect the people she loves. In this episode of The Other Side of MS, Dr. Hughes reflects on what those diagnoses changed inside her, how they shaped the direction of her career, and the emotional tension of spending a lifetime helping families navigate a disease she still cannot fully control herself. The conversation also explores the racial disparities that existed for decades in MS diagnosis and care, including the long-held belief that African Americans rarely developed MS. Dr. Hughes discusses how those assumptions delayed diagnoses, limited access to treatment, and forced difficult conversations inside both medicine and advocacy organizations. Dr. Hughes completed her internship and neurology residency at Emory University and later trained in Electrophysiology at the Medical College of Georgia. She founded the Augusta MS Center in 2002 and later served as Division Chair for Neurology at Greenville Health System, where she helped expand neurological care and develop curriculum for the system’s medical school. From 2008 to 2019, she served on the National MS Society Board of Trustees and chaired the African American Advisory Committee. She was inducted into the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Health Professionals Volunteer Hall of Fame in 2015 and continues to advocate for greater access to care, clinical trials, and patient education through her work at Premier Neurology. This is a conversation about medicine, family, advocacy, uncertainty, and what happens when your life’s work becomes inseparable from the people you love. Support the Mission: If you would like to support the mission of the National MS Society, you can support one of the individuals who ride for MS at . They ride for MS. Your donation fuels the mission.
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S4_E6: Rachael Fenich - Facing MS Together
05/14/2026
S4_E6: Rachael Fenich - Facing MS Together
Rachael has seen multiple sclerosis from more than one angle. Her husband lives with it. So do other members of her family. Over time, what she thought she understood about MS has changed in ways she didn’t expect. In this conversation, Rachael talks about what MS actually looks like inside a marriage. The parts you don’t see. The things that don’t get said. What happens when one person is “house planting” and the other is trying to understand how to respond. They talk about communication, frustration, and the quiet ways both people hold things back to protect each other. Rachael also shares what changed when she faced her own autoimmune diagnosis, and how that shifted the way she understood what her husband had been carrying all along. This is not a story about inspiration. It’s about learning how to live inside something you didn’t choose, together. Rachael Fenich serves as the Executive Director of the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Helpful Links
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S4_E5: Mark Morabito | “You Didn’t Sign Up for This"
04/30/2026
S4_E5: Mark Morabito | “You Didn’t Sign Up for This"
Mark Morabito looked at his wife in a hospital room and told her she could leave. He had just been diagnosed with MS. And in his mind, he already knew how it would end. In this episode, Mark doesn’t hold back. He talks about growing up watching his mom live with MS, believing it was a slow decline you couldn’t escape. He shares the fear of becoming her, the regret of what he wishes he had known sooner, and the moment everything shifted. We push on the idea of “mind over matter.” Because for some, that mindset feels empowering. For others, it feels like a lie. This is not a clean story. It’s tension, contradiction, and truth in real time. What does it mean to fight a disease you can’t control? And where is the line between strength and reality? Listen in. Support Mark in Walk MS:
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S4_E4: Justin Yuhaze - Some Days Are Tougher Than Others
04/23/2026
S4_E4: Justin Yuhaze - Some Days Are Tougher Than Others
"Some days are tougher than others." Justin Yuhaze was diagnosed with MS just days before the birth of his second daughter. In this episode, he talks about the months that followed, the symptoms he tried to hide, the depression he did not always want to name, and the moments that pushed him toward deeper conversations instead of avoiding them. Justin also shares what it has meant to raise two daughters who have only ever known him with MS and the choices he makes to stay active and present in their lives. Donate to Justin's Bike MS Fundraiser: Justin is riding in Bike MS: City to Shore Ride 2026 as the team captain of Muggles on a Mission. Help him reach his goal of raising $5,000 for the National MS Society. Support his fundraiser here:
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S4_E3: Tyler Saldutti - Define Me By This
04/16/2026
S4_E3: Tyler Saldutti - Define Me By This
“People will abandon you. They will come up with whatever they need to justify it.” Tyler was diagnosed with primary progressive MS in 2013, and the impact reshaped every part of his life. His marriage ended, relationships shifted, and the identity he built as a Division I athlete began to fall away. In this episode, Tyler talks about nine years of denial, the people who stepped back when MS became too heavy for them to hold, and the isolation that comes from realizing you do not get MS alone. He also shares what it is like to have two young daughters who now listen closely when an Ocrevus commercial comes on, trying to understand what the medication might mean for their dad. This is not a story about silver linings. This is a story about truth.
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S4_E2: Tiffany - If It Don't Align, I Decline
04/09/2026
S4_E2: Tiffany - If It Don't Align, I Decline
This is the MS story people are not ready for. And that is exactly why you need to hear it. Tiffany opens up about the diagnosis that broke her plans, the marriage that had to be rebuilt, the faith that almost collapsed, and the moment she hit the floor and wondered if her family would be better off without her. This is not a polished MS story. This is the real one. Where to Find Tiffany Official Website: TikTok:
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S4_E1: No Two Days Alike - Selena‘s navigating MS From Both Sides of Care
04/02/2026
S4_E1: No Two Days Alike - Selena‘s navigating MS From Both Sides of Care
In this Season 4 premiere, clinician and MS patient Selena shares her powerful story of navigating multiple sclerosis from both sides of care. She opens up about the early symptoms she hid, the fear and uncertainty of diagnosis, the grief of losing her former self, and the daily reality behind the phrase “no two days are alike.” Listeners will hear what MS looks like through the eyes of a medical provider, how cycling and community support her healing, and why talking openly about the “new normal” is essential for anyone living with MS. This episode offers real insight, real emotion, and a rare dual perspective you won’t hear anywhere else. Explore Selena’s podcast, MS Wired: Explore Selena’s MS Fundraisers: Bike MS: Breakaway to the Keys 2026: Walk MS: West Palm Beach 2026:
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S3_E21: Ursula - The Marathon Before MS, The Ride After
08/25/2025
S3_E21: Ursula - The Marathon Before MS, The Ride After
Running Into MS with Ursula Forrester Ursula has always been a runner - marathons, half-marathons, and miles that measured more than distance. But in October 2014, after years of unexplained symptoms, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Suddenly, endurance meant something entirely different. She is a wife, a mother of two, and a professional in advertising who still chooses to see the glass half full. But behind that optimism lies the daily reality of MS modifying, compensating, and sometimes surrendering to the fatigue that doesn’t show up on finish line photos. Ursula and her family created the Mill Chill, a local race that has raised more than $150,000 for the MS Society, and in 2023 they added Bike MS to their journey, forming Team Mighty Strong. In this episode, Ursula reflects on running marathons, building a community through fundraising, and what it really means to balance resilience with honesty. Her story is not just about crossing finish lines, but about redefining what strength looks like when MS becomes part of the course. This isn’t just a runner’s story. It’s about family, identity, and the power of creating a movement bigger than yourself. You too can make a difference, please donate to Ursula's MS Fundraiser:
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S3_E20: Steve - Both Sides of the Bed: A Trauma Nurse Living with MS
08/18/2025
S3_E20: Steve - Both Sides of the Bed: A Trauma Nurse Living with MS
Steve: From Trauma Nurse to MS Warrior Steve was 30 years old, working as a travel nurse in Idaho, when numbness crept up his leg and refused to go away. A ski accident had rattled his body, but what scans revealed was something else entirely: lesions on his brain and spine. In 2002, Steve entered a world he had once only witnessed from the other side of the hospital bed, the world of multiple sclerosis. As a trauma nurse, Steve knew the language of medicine. But living it was different. He walked away from graduate school, leaned on his family in Colorado, and began reshaping his life around the uncertainty of MS. Over the years, he has worked across ERs, ICUs, and trauma centers, all while navigating his own invisible symptoms and treatments. He’s also become a force in the MS community, leading a Bike MS team that has raised over $1 Million for research and support. In this episode, Steve reflects on what it means to live on both sides of the diagnosis, as the nurse who explains and the patient who endures. He shares the fear, the gratitude, and the hard choices MS demands, as well as the quiet resilience of a man who calls himself “one of the lucky ones.” This isn’t just a story about MS. It’s a story about medicine, identity, and the power of showing up for a community when you don’t have to, but choose to anyway.
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S3_E19: Brad Romp - Stronger Than He’ll Ever Let You See
08/04/2025
S3_E19: Brad Romp - Stronger Than He’ll Ever Let You See
What Strength Really Looks Like Brad was diagnosed with MS at 45. Now 64, he’s a speaker, a cyclist, and a face of strength for others living with the disease. But behind the workouts, the travel, and the public optimism is a more complex truth—one that doesn’t always fit into a social media caption or a feel-good campaign. In this episode, Brad sits down for a different kind of conversation. One that doesn’t ask him to inspire, perform, or push through. Instead, we talk about the days he can’t move. The pressure to keep showing up. The identity that forms around always being the strong one—and what happens when that strength runs out. We talk about guilt, body betrayal, and the silent fear of losing momentum. And we ask the questions that rarely get asked: Who sees you when the cape comes off? Are you helping others because it heals you—or because you don’t know how to stop? This isn’t about overcoming. It’s about truth. And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is admit how much it hurts. Brad's Website: https://romptocurems.net/
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S3_E18: Dan - I do what I can when I can while I can
07/28/2025
S3_E18: Dan - I do what I can when I can while I can
School Dan - I do What I Can, When I Can, While I Can Dan has been a teacher for over 20 years, a school spirit leader, a cyclist, and a quiet force in his Florida community. His energy is infectious. His optimism is constant. But behind the vibrant classroom persona is a man living with relentless, invisible pain—and the pressure to never let it show. In this episode, Dan opens up about how MS has shaped every part of his identity, from the walking stick he once felt ashamed of to the pride that makes asking for help harder than it should be. He talks about the dual realities of living with a disease that makes him stronger while slowly wearing him down. And he shares the emotional cost of performing “School Dan” when “Real Dan” is quietly falling apart. This is a story about vulnerability, not victory. About a man who shows up every day with humor, grit, and quiet dignity—even when it hurts. And a reminder that being strong doesn’t mean pretending you’re fine. Sometimes it just means telling the truth.
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S3_E17: Teresa, Jax Bourbon Social: The Power Behind the Pour and MS
07/18/2025
S3_E17: Teresa, Jax Bourbon Social: The Power Behind the Pour and MS
Teresa, Jax Bourbon Social: The Power Behind the Pour and MS Teresa Eichner is more than the co-founder of Jax Bourbon Social—she’s the relentless force behind one of Jacksonville’s most impactful fundraising events for the National MS Society. After a sudden MS diagnosis in 2016, Teresa’s world shifted. But instead of retreating, she channeled her decades of experience in PR and politics into advocacy, community-building, and bold visibility. In this raw, deeply honest conversation, Teresa opens up about the private cost of public recognition, the invisible weight of fatigue, and what it really means to be the “well-spoken face” of MS. We talk about her diagnosis story—one of the fastest we’ve heard on this show—and how it unexpectedly brought her full circle to the MS Society. She also shares what it’s like to carry her symptoms quietly through a packed, sold-out fundraiser… all while smiling, organizing, and holding a DeWalt fan like it’s her fourth child. We also ask a harder question: do glamorized events risk minimizing the brutal reality of MS? Teresa doesn’t flinch. And neither do we. Whether you’re here for bourbon, boldness, or the bare truth—this one stays with you. 🎟️ Learn more or support the mission:
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S3_E16: Curt's Riding Against MS: The Road to One Million
07/14/2025
S3_E16: Curt's Riding Against MS: The Road to One Million
One Rider, One Team, One Million Dollars — Curtis’s Story Curtis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his twenties. What began as fear quickly turned into action. A chance connection to a support group sparked the creation of Team CCC — a cycling team that would go on to raise nearly $1 million for MS research and support. With every mile, Curtis has redefined what leadership looks like in the face of a chronic illness. In this episode, Curtis reflects on the moment a fellow rider convinced him to try Bike MS, the early days of hiding his diagnosis, and how polka dot jerseys became a symbol of visibility and community. From forming a nonprofit to building a virtual cycling presence on Zwift, his story is one of purpose, persistence, and the power of showing up. This is not just a story about reaching a milestone. It’s about choosing to turn a diagnosis into momentum — and inspiring others to do the same. Help Curtis and Team CCC cross the $1 million finish line.
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S3_E15: Emma’s Story — “At 17, I Thought My Life Might Be Over”
07/07/2025
S3_E15: Emma’s Story — “At 17, I Thought My Life Might Be Over”
S3_E15: At 17, Emma Thought Her Life Was Over Emma Archuletta, from Utah, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2019 at just 17 years old. One day, she was preparing for high school graduation. The next, she was sleeping 20 hours a day, vomiting without explanation, and using a wheelchair. There was no slow decline—only confusion, fear, and the quiet thought that her life might already be over. In this episode, Emma talks candidly about the chaos of her early diagnosis: missing senior prom, crawling up stairs, and finishing school from a hospital bed while juggling college-level coursework. She shares how her body became unfamiliar, how people questioned her because she “looked fine,” and how she built a dating rulebook to protect herself from rejection. Now an elementary school teacher, Emma reflects on what it means to pursue a dream career while managing invisible symptoms. We talk about the fatigue that threatens her work, the cost of treatment, and the moments she’s chosen to live boldly—through surfing, snowboarding, and refusing to let MS define her. This is not a story of triumph. It’s a story of persistence. A story of living with the unknown, and refusing to let it decide who you get to be.
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S3_E14: The Art of Becoming – Hannah Garrison’s Story
06/30/2025
S3_E14: The Art of Becoming – Hannah Garrison’s Story
The Art of Becoming — Hannah Garrison’s Story Hannah Garrison was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2017, but her journey started long before that; in the silence of being dismissed, the guilt of cultural and religious expectations, and the quiet ache of never quite feeling seen. In this raw and intimate conversation, Hannah shares how MS forced her to confront not only her body, but her identity. We talk about the years she was misdiagnosed, the weight of family history with mental illness, and the internal battle between acceptance and perceived weakness. Through her art, Hannah found a place to be fully herself... messy, brilliant, and unfiltered. We explore the clash between generational mindsets, the emotional toll of being “the sensitive one,” and what it really costs to make peace with a future others want you to fight. This is not a story of inspiration. It’s a story of truth, survival, and the kind of healing that begins when you stop trying to be who everyone else needs you to be. If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or quietly breaking — this episode is for you. Hanna's Art:
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S3_E13: W.T.F., I Have MS? — Chris Brown’s Story
06/23/2025
S3_E13: W.T.F., I Have MS? — Chris Brown’s Story
W.T.F., I Have MS? — Chris Brown’s Story Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of depression, alcohol misuse, and suicidal thoughts, which may be distressing for some listeners. Just three months after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Chris Brown sits down with us to talk about the weight of a life that hasn’t let up. He’s faced childhood trauma, infertility, the loss of triplets, depression, and addiction. And now, MS. In this conversation, Chris shares what it’s like to process a life-changing diagnosis in real time. He speaks openly about fear, identity, fatherhood, and the quiet exhaustion of always having to adapt. He also talks about the choice to speak up, even when the path forward is still uncertain. “If by hearing my story, it gives someone some hope… I feel like I have an obligation to do that.” — Chris Brown This episode is not about closure. It’s about what it looks like in the middle of the storm. Chris' MS Fundraiser:
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S3_E12: Allie - MS Didn’t Break Me. Silence Almost Did
06/17/2025
S3_E12: Allie - MS Didn’t Break Me. Silence Almost Did
Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of childhood trauma, depression, and suicidal ideation, which may be distressing for some listeners. What happens when you spend your life holding it all together—only to realize it’s been breaking you inside? In this powerful episode, Allie Schmidl shares what it meant to live in silence after her 2022 MS diagnosis—buried beneath shame, fear, and the weight of a lifetime of unspoken trauma. But MS wasn’t the only battle she was fighting. We talk about the weight of vulnerability, the fear of being seen as broken, and what happens when even your body starts telling the story you’ve tried to silence. Allie opens up about surviving divorce, the ache of parental abandonment, and the quiet devastation of feeling invisible in your own pain. “I was beating myself up a little bit over how I got to where I am… I felt like this was my fault.” — Allie Schmidl But this isn’t just a story of darkness—it’s one of reckoning, healing, and choosing to be heard. If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or afraid no one would stay if they knew the truth—this episode is for you.
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S3_E11: Unyielding Spirit - Susie’s Journey with MS
06/09/2025
S3_E11: Unyielding Spirit - Susie’s Journey with MS
Before MS, Susie Wyss’s body was her job — a fitness instructor, powered by movement and strength. Then one morning, everything stopped. She woke up unable to walk. What followed was a long, painful journey through misdiagnosis, grief, and a complete redefinition of identity. In this episode, Susie opens up about the moment she felt like a stranger in her own body, the invisible symptoms that linger even now, and the hard truth about how others see her — or don’t. We talk about the guilt of looking “normal,” the ache of feeling misunderstood, and what it really means to fight for hope when your body won’t cooperate. Susie didn’t just build herself back — she built a 44-member Bike MS team that’s raised nearly $100,000. But this isn’t a story about fundraising. It’s about rebuilding. About letting go of who you were. About choosing to lead anyway.
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S3_E10: Will Anthony Talk MS - A Podcast about Perseverance and Positivity
06/02/2025
S3_E10: Will Anthony Talk MS - A Podcast about Perseverance and Positivity
Will Anthony Talk MS - A Podcast about Perseverance and Positivity Before MS, Will Anthony built a life behind the chair — salon owner, jingle writer, entrepreneur. But MS didn’t just take his livelihood; it tested his faith, reshaped his identity, and led him to a new calling. Diagnosed in 2008 after two years of believing he’d had a stroke, Will faced a reality he couldn’t pray or push away. And yet, he didn’t fold. In this episode, we talk about what it means to be a “positive person” when positivity isn’t always enough. We explore faith as an anchor — not a shield — and how Will’s relationship with God deepened through diagnosis, isolation, and loss. Will is now an MS Ambassador out of Cleveland, Ohio, and the host of his own podcast, Will Anthony Talk MS, where he creates space for others to share their truth. His story is one of vulnerability, resilience, and spiritual clarity. He doesn’t charge MS a dime for the empathy it never gave him — he offers it freely, just as he does in this episode. 🎧 Listen to Will Anthony Talk MS on YouTube:
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S3_E9: A Soldier's Story - From Combat to MS with Troy
05/26/2025
S3_E9: A Soldier's Story - From Combat to MS with Troy
Troy Mitchell: A Soldier's Story - From Combat to MS with Troy Mitchell Troy Mitchell spent 22 years as a U.S. Marine Corps officer—leading combat units, earning a doctorate, teaching graduate school, and chasing the next finish line. Then came progressive MS. The goals changed. The gear changed. The silence got louder. In this episode, Troy opens up about what it means to lose function but still lead, to be admired for your story while feeling invisible in your truth, and to carry the weight of independence when asking for help feels like failure. He talks about the collapse of his marriage, the conversations he doesn’t have with his son, and why pain in a combat zone was easier than pain that comes for no reason at all. We cover the kind of ground that doesn’t fit in a résumé — the terrain of identity, masculinity, MS, and what it means to build a future from a life that’s already unraveled. 🎧 Listen now: Follow, like, and leave a review to help elevate voices like Troy’s. 💬 Share: Send this episode to someone who needs to hear it. 🚴♂️ Support Troy’s MS fundraiser: He’s riding in the Bluegrass Bourbon Ride to raise money for MS research and support. Donate here:
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S3_E8: Stubborn Strength: Katie Heckert's Life with MS
05/19/2025
S3_E8: Stubborn Strength: Katie Heckert's Life with MS
Katie Heckert: mother, former litigator, top fundraiser—and MS warrior. Stubborn Strength: Katie Heckert’s Life with MS What happens when a sharp legal mind faces a disease that refuses to follow rules? In this episode of The Other Side of MS, Katie Heckert shares what it’s like to live with multiple sclerosis after having to step away from her career in litigation—not by choice, but by necessity. She opens up about the relentless ache, the misdiagnoses, the frustration of being dismissed—and the resilience required to keep showing up as a mother, a wife, and a powerful voice in the MS fundraising community. Katie doesn’t sugarcoat her journey. But she doesn’t let it silence her either. If you’ve ever wondered what MS really feels like—or what strength sounds like when it has nothing left to prove—this conversation is for you. “It’s like when I’ve heard people with arthritis or the flu talk about their whole body aching... that kind of happens on almost a daily basis.” 💛 If Katie’s story moves you, please consider supporting her personal Bike MS fundraiser for the PGA Tour: Bike to the Shore ride. . 100% of contributions go to the National MS Society. As mentioned on the podcast: is a nonprofit organization that provides life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults impacted by serious health conditions, including cancer and multiple sclerosis. Their programs are specifically designed for people aged 18 to 39 (though they also have offerings for healthcare workers and older adults), and focus on using adventure-based experiences—like rock climbing, kayaking, and surfing—to build community, confidence, and emotional healing.
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S3_E7: The Compassion You Don’t Expect – with Dr. Deanna Greer
05/12/2025
S3_E7: The Compassion You Don’t Expect – with Dr. Deanna Greer
Most people wouldn’t expect a veterinarian to be deeply involved in the MS community—but that’s exactly what makes Dr. Deanna “Dee” Greer’s story worth hearing. Dr. Dee, owner and Medical Director of Birch Island Veterinary Center in Jacksonville, Florida, has spent her career listening to those who can’t speak—animals in pain, suffering in silence. But it’s her personal connection through her husband’s former spouse, who lives with MS, that led her to become an annual donor to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her sponsorship of this episode isn’t advertising. It’s personal. Her contributions go directly to the MS Society—not this podcast—and her story is a reminder that compassion doesn’t have to come from shared diagnosis. Sometimes, it’s a choice. In this episode, we also explore the science of empathy through the lens of veterinary medicine, including Dr. Dee’s reflections on the book , which examines how just 15 seconds of human connection can change clinical outcomes. To learn more—or to match Dr. Dee’s generosity with a donation of your own—visit and click the “Donate” button. 100% of all funds go directly to the National MS Society.
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S3_E6: Cori - Sometimes, MS Is a Lesson for the Ones Who Watch
04/18/2025
S3_E6: Cori - Sometimes, MS Is a Lesson for the Ones Who Watch
What if suffering isn’t a punishment… but a lesson for those who see it? In this powerful episode of The Other Side of MS, Cori — a mother, advocate, and MS warrior — opens up about the grief, faith, anger, and invisible struggles that come with living two decades with multiple sclerosis. She shares how her perspective has evolved over the years, the lessons her children are learning by watching her fight, and the moments she’s felt abandoned — by her body, by faith, and by those who just “don’t get it.” Cori doesn’t sugarcoat the truth. She talks about the exhaustion of constantly having to explain herself, the vulnerability of visible disability, and the heartbreak of being seen only as a diagnosis. “Sometimes suffering isn’t a punishment for the person who’s suffering. Sometimes it’s a lesson for those who see it.” If you’ve ever felt unseen in your MS journey — or want to understand what it really feels like — this is the conversation we need to have. 💬 Support Cori’s Walk MS Fundraising in Fort Wayne, Indiana:
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S3 _ E5: Zohra - The MS Day No One Sees
04/14/2025
S3 _ E5: Zohra - The MS Day No One Sees
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S3_E4: Pam Grimes: Strength, Stencils, and Showing Up Anyway
04/07/2025
S3_E4: Pam Grimes: Strength, Stencils, and Showing Up Anyway
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