Podcast Summary

Podcast: Living Well with MS
Episode: Highlights from the Living Well Live One Day Event | S8E2
Date: January 14, 2026
Host: Geoff Allix
Produced by: Overcoming MS charity

Episode Overview

This episode of "Living Well with MS" is a special compilation of highlights from the Living Well Live hybrid in-person and online event, hosted at the University of Warwick in November 2025. Geoff Allix interviews a variety of presenters, facilitators, MS charity leaders, ambassadors, and people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). The episode centers on the power of community, lifestyle management, the latest MS research, and stories of resilience and adaptation within the Overcoming MS (OMS) movement.

Key Theme Summaries

1. The Power of Community and the OMS Movement

• OMS History & Growth

  • Linda Bloom reflected on how the OMS program provided hope and practical tools to manage MS, and her journey founding the charity to share this life-changing information.
    • “I felt that it was negligent for me to have this information that changed my life and not share it with others.” (Linda Bloom, 02:51)
  • Community has grown from a handful of people to a global movement, showing the cumulative power of shared experience and support.

• OMS as a Movement, Not Just a Charity

  • Alex (OMS CEO) positioned OMS as a movement—"inspiring people by providing practical advice and a community to support each other.” (04:04)
  • The charity's role: filter research, identify credible guidance, and create forums for connection.

• Bringing People Together

  • The one-day event marked the first major in-person OMS gathering in six years, bringing together people newly diagnosed, long-term followers, and those seeking both updated research and peer connection.

2. Research and Adapting the OMS Program

• Adapting to New Evidence

  • OMS is not static—Lisa and Alex discussed how OMS recommendations evolve with credible new science (e.g., fish oil switched to flaxseed oil, and increased emphasis on sleep).
    • “When George was coming out with the program, sleep wasn’t a thing people were talking about...now all this evidence is catching up.” (Alex, 07:33)

• Hot Topics: “What’s New?”

  • The event aimed to present credible, up-to-date information on topics like intermittent fasting, gut health, and sleep, without dogma, so people can make informed choices.
    • “It’s an absolute absence of information that creates worry, it creates anxiety. Am I doing the right thing?” (Alex, 06:05)

3. The Importance of Lifestyle Medicine & Self-Management

• Lifestyle Medicine: The Evidence

  • Dr. Jonny White argued that there is now overwhelming, consistent evidence for the role of lifestyle in MS outcomes.
    • “You simply can’t say there is no evidence for the role of lifestyle when you’re living with MS.” (Jonny White, 09:22)

• Holistic & Medical Approaches Together

  • Best outcomes are found when people combine advanced medical therapies with active lifestyle management and community engagement.
    • “It’s not us or them, it’s us and them working together.” (Jonny White, 11:11)

• Rising Hope for All Forms of MS

  • There’s growing optimism with new therapies being researched for progressive forms of MS (e.g., BTK inhibitors and remyelination trials).

4. Stories of Resilience, Preparation, and Toolkits

• Sport and Mindfulness: Lena Nielsen’s Story (13:20–16:56)

  • Olympian Lena Nielsen discussed being one of the first to compete in the Olympics with MS, how exercise and mindfulness are crucial in her MS management, and the importance of personalizing coping strategies.
    • “I think finding the things that make you happy and energized and ways you can cope with relapses is a very powerful tool.” (Lena Nielsen, 15:10)

• Preparation & Proactive Resilience (Tessa Miles, 17:05–22:07)

  • Stressing the importance of preparation in dealing with MS—meditation, exercise, and building a support “toolkit.”
    • “If we know and understand how our body is working, it prepares us to cope with those things that are thrown at us.” (Tessa Miles, 18:18)

5. Nervous System: Friend or Foe?

• Understanding and Working with Your Body

  • Rachel Hunter shared thoughts on using tech (e.g., wearables) with a balanced approach—not to create more stress, but to empower self-management.
    • “Find out the information, make yourself the expert in what works for you.” (Rachel Hunter, 24:12)

• Changes in Self-Management

  • There’s increasing recognition in the health community of the importance of self-management—OMS program principles are being reinforced by new research.

6. Social Support, Circles, and Peer Connection

• Peer Ambassadors: Building Circles

  • Maureen (York Circle) emphasized the importance of peer circles for hints, tips, and support—especially for the newly diagnosed.

• Theme of Individual Yet Collective Experience

  • MS is uniquely individual, but shared experience with others who "get it" is invaluable.

7. Hot Topics: Intermittent Fasting, Sleep, Gut Health

• Trying New Approaches
  • The panel addressed topics like intermittent fasting, sleep, and the gut microbiome—while OMS doesn’t officially recommend all, they support informed experimentation.

8. Hope and Vision for the Future of OMS

• Leadership Vision
  • Miriam, the new chair, shares ambitions to reach every newly-diagnosed person and every professional, so lifestyle management is integrated with clinical care.
    • “For the future, we need to make sure that more people know that this charity exists…that on diagnosis, people know this charity exists and is here for you.” (Miriam, 36:00)

9. Sleep: The Underrated Pillar

• Central Role of Sleep
  • Dr. Neil Stanley discussed how sleep underpins all aspects of health, providing practical tips to improve sleep hygiene.
    • “Sleep is self-regulating. If you can improve your sleep as much as you can, you will get the quality of sleep that you can at that stage of life.” (Neil Stanley, 40:20)

10. Mental Health, Laughter, and Finding Your 8th Pillar

• Laughter as a Coping Tool

  • Speakers argued for the value of humor, seeing laughter as an “eighth pillar”—a vital way to relieve stress and step out of negativity.
    • "For me, it's laughter. Laughter's been important to me... I think laughter is like a positive expression of emotion." (Speaker D, 43:51)

• Tailoring Coping Tools

  • Each person’s ‘eighth pillar’—beyond the seven OMS pillars—may be different, but having a toolkit for mental resilience is key.

11. Younger Adults & Tailored Support

• MS Together & Shift MS

  • Amy (MS Together) and Eleanor (Shift MS) discussed the unique challenges faced by younger adults diagnosed with MS and how tailored, age-specific support is vital.

• Importance of Early Lifestyle Changes

  • “I realized that when I was making small changes, exercising more and eating a bit better... I saw a massive difference.” (Amy, MS Together, 51:45)

12. Technology, Advocacy, and Hope

• Using Tech to Improve Quality of Life

  • Dom ("the MS Guide") highlighted advances: AI for gait analysis, MRI comparison, and the importance of the highest efficacy drugs early on, alongside lifestyle.
    • “It’s about brain reserve. It’s about preserving your function.” (Dom, 54:55)

• Growing Optimism, Even Without a Cure

  • AI and technology are accelerating advances and giving hope for improved MS management.

13. Collaboration Across Charities

• Not in Competition: Collaborative Spirit

  • Representatives from MSUK, Shift MS, and others share how their organizations complement OMS and work to expand the diversity of support, information access, and real-life stories for everyone with MS.

• Peer Support and Accessibility

  • Various charities offer accessible exercise sessions, information sessions, and spaces where people don’t need to explain their MS—they just “get it.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamp Highlights

• OMS as a Movement
  • “Overcoming MS isn’t really a charity, it’s a movement.” (Alex, 04:00)
• On Lifestyle Medicine's Evidence Base
  • “You simply can’t say there is no evidence for the role of lifestyle when you’re living with MS.” (Jonny White, 09:22)
• OMS’s Evolving Recommendations
  • “We were recommending fish oils...and then the research changed to flaxseed oil." (Alex, 07:18)
• Sleep’s Role
  • “If you feel good during the day, you’ve had enough sleep. If you don’t...you probably haven’t.” (Neil Stanley, 40:32)
• Preparation and Toolkit Development
  • “The word today is preparation. Preparing myself for whatever.” (Tessa Miles, 22:01)
• Coping with MS:
  • "I'm not defined by MS. But I love the idea that she said, you know, it's living with me." (Tessa Miles, relaying Lena, 19:00)
• Laughter as Coping
  • "For me, it's laughter. Laughter's been important to me because I do standup comedy... bringing it to the MS fight is no different." (Speaker D, 47:07)
• Hope for the Future
  • “It is a really optimistic time. In 13 years so much has changed...so where are we going to be in another 13?" (Rachel Hunter, 25:18)
• OMS’s Ambition
  • “A charity with small charity with very big ambitions...to make sure that everybody who is touched by this condition knows that we’re here and OMS is here to help.” (Miriam, 37:48)

Segment Timestamps

• [01:38–04:55] OMS Founding, Vision, and Adapting
• [09:06–12:56] The Evidence for Lifestyle in MS & Current Research
• [12:58–16:56] Athlete Perspective: Lena Nielsen
• [17:05–22:07] Peer Support & Preparation: Tessa Miles
• [22:07–26:06] Nervous System, Tech Tools & Optimism: Rachel Hunter
• [26:08–29:36] Peer Circles: Maureen, York OMS Circle
• [30:10–33:23] What’s New & Empowerment: Jasmin Nevers
• [33:25–37:54] Chair’s Vision: Miriam
• [37:56–43:20] Sleep Deep Dive: Neil Stanley
• [43:22–49:18] Laughter & Mental Health: Speaker D
• [49:19–52:40] Young Adults and Support: Amy, MS Together
• [52:40–59:42] Advocacy & MS in the Digital Age: Dom, The MS Guide
• [59:42–66:43] Charity Collaboration and Accessibility: Eleanor (Shift MS), Sarah (MSUK)

Key Takeaways for New Listeners

• OMS is a global, evolving movement building hope, practical advice, and community for people with MS.
• Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, mindfulness, sleep) are evidence-backed pillars for MS management, alongside medical therapies.
• Community, connection, and peer support are as vital as scientific advances.
• Adaptability—embracing new research, trying new tools, fostering positivity—empowers people to live well with MS.
• Everyone’s journey is unique; toolkit-building and self-expertise are foundational.

For more information, resources, and support, visit:
Overcoming MS
OMS LiveWell Hub

(Note: Timestamps refer to the podcast's audio timeline for easy reference.)