My MS Podcast

What if this was the first year you actually had the energy to enjoy the holidays, not just survive them? The dinners, the parties, even Christmas morning. Today, I’m going to show you how a simple fall fresh start can change the way you feel heading into the busiest season of the year. 👉 Want the full transcript + show notes (including links and resources mentioned in this episode)? Read it here: alenebrennan.com/blog 

If you’ve ever thought, “My family needs me, I don’t have time to rest,” you’re not alone. Most women with MS are carrying the double weight of managing their health and caring for others. But what happens when your body simply can’t keep up? This episode of My MS Podcast is all about finding ways to care for your family without sacrificing your health.  Are you the one everyone leans on—the mom, the daughter, the wife, the caregiver—and you’re trying to do it all living with MS? You’re still carrying all the weight, but suddenly your own body needs care too. In today’s episode, we’re talking about what happens when caregivers get MS, and how to keep your battery charged so you don’t burn out.” In this episode of My MS Podcast, I’m not giving you clichés or generic advice that never factors in what it’s truly like to live with ms… I’m talking about the real-life pressure of being a caregiver with MS, and how to protect your health in ways that actually work when life doesn’t let up. 👉 Want the full transcript + show notes (including links and resources mentioned in this episode)? Read it here: alenebrennan.com/blog   

Traveling with MS doesn’t have to mean falling off track with your diet. In this episode, I’m sharing real-life MS diet travel tips from my 10-day Hawaii vacation. You’ll hear: What I packed for a long travel day (including a 12 hour plane ride!) The grocery staples that I got on my first day in Hawaii How I created an easy meal routine so I wasn’t making a thousand food decisions a day The wins that came with eating at luaus, Waikiki restaurants and a food truck on North Shore This isn’t about being perfect on vacation, it’s about consistency, enjoying the moment, and feeling good in your body while still living life. 👉 Want the full transcript + show notes (including links and resources mentioned in this episode)? Read it here: alenebrennan.com/blog 

Ever have a day where your MS symptoms flare up and your mind immediately starts scanning for what you did wrong? Did I eat something? Forget my supplements? Push too hard? Been there… more times than I can count. In this episode, I’m sharing the real, raw truth about how easy it is to fall into the guilt spiral… especially when you’re doing everything “right.” I’ll share how this pattern started way before my MS diagnosis and how I’m learning to give myself more grace on the hard days. Whether your symptoms make perfect sense or come out of nowhere, this conversation will help you stop beating yourself up and start supporting your body with compassion.   👉 Want the full transcript + show notes (including links and resources mentioned in this episode)? Read it here: alenebrennan.com/blog   

If you’re the one who always got it done... The one who stayed up late, woke up early, didn’t need help, didn’t ask for it... The one who wore the heels and pushed through—no matter what—   Then I know how hard it is to slow down.   Not just because of MS, but because it feels like you’re losing a part of who you are.   I’ve been there. And in this episode, I’m not telling you to just “let the laundry pile up.”   I’m talking about what it really means to stop living in burnout mode— Not because you’ve given up... but because you finally know it’s not sustainable.   Let’s talk about what it looks like to give yourself permission to rest—without feeling like you’re failing the person you used to be.

Feel like nothing’s changing no matter how hard you try? Before you give up, listen to this. In this episode, we talk about the quiet kind of healing—the kind that starts beneath the surface. You’ll learn what’s actually happening in your body when you start changing your habits, even if you don’t see results yet. Because just because you can’t feel it, doesn’t mean it’s not working.  

Feel like nothing’s changing no matter how hard you try? Before you give up, listen to this. In this episode, we talk about the quiet kind of healing—the kind that starts beneath the surface. You’ll learn what’s actually happening in your body when you start changing your habits, even if you don’t see results yet. Because just because you can’t feel it, doesn’t mean it’s not working.  

Feel like you have to justify your healing to everyone around you? This episode is your permission slip to stop explaining. Inspired by Mel Robbins’ “Let Them,” we explore what it looks like to release the pressure to be understood and redirect that energy toward your healing. Because you don’t need approval to rest, say no, or eat differently—you need peace. And this episode helps you reclaim it.  

Healing from MS can feel like a full-time job—but it doesn’t always have to feel heavy. Sometimes what we need most is a little joy, a little play, and a reminder that fun is still allowed in the healing process. In this episode, I’m sharing five simple ways to bring lightness back into your routine—no pressure, no perfection. Just small, doable shifts that help you feel more like yourself again.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to “do it all right”—the nine cups, the supplements, the meal prep, the perfection—this episode is for you. Wahls Protocol burnout is real, and it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re doing too much, too fast, and likely without enough support. In this episode, I’m sharing 6 practical, grace-filled ways to recover from Wahls Protocol burnout and bring your healing back to a place that feels doable—and even enjoyable—again.  

When you’re living with MS, it’s a whole different kind of strength to get through the day sometimes. And it’s not the “power through it” strength we used to rely on before diagnosis—or the kind the world keeps praising with its obsession with productivity and hustle.   That kind of pressure? It just doesn’t work here.   And no—it’s not about lowering your expectations or settling for a less-than life. It’s about creating space for your body to heal in a way that gives you more of what you want—more energy, more peace, more capacity to enjoy the people and moments that matter most.   I’m talking about what strength actually looks like with MS, and why doing less might just be the bravest thing you can do. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not doing enough, I made this for you.   Because the goal isn’t to do less. It’s to live better. And that starts with healing habits that work with your body—not against it.  

Do you wake up exhausted, wondering how you’ll make it through the day? In this episode, I’m sharing 7 simple, game-changing tricks to boost energy and tackle MS fatigue so you can get back to feeling like you again.

"Just one more piece," you tell yourself, reaching for another candy. Sound familiar? This Halloween, I'm unwrapping the truth about sugar cravings and MS. But here's a sweet surprise – this isn't an episode that'll leave you feeling depressed and deprived with lectures about how awful sugar is. No "power through your cravings, or else..." here! I know firsthand just how overwhelming sugar cravings can be – especially when living with MS. But managing them doesn't have to feel like a losing battle. In this episode, I'm answering your top 10 questions about sugar cravings. We'll explore why they hit so hard, how to handle them without feeling deprived, and simple, MS-friendly tricks to keep those cravings in check. You'll walk away knowing how to enjoy Halloween treats and feel good doing it. Get ready to satisfy your sweet tooth without derailing your health goals. Let's make this season a treat, not a trick!  

Ever felt a new MS symptom and wondered, 'Is this the start of something bigger?' This summer, I faced my first MS scare since 2016, and it led me straight to the ER for a 2-hour MRI at 1:30 a.m. I’m taking you behind the scenes of what it’s really like to navigate an MS pseudo flare. Tune in to hear how I balanced fear, frustration, and advocacy while juggling the realities of living with MS. If you’ve ever questioned your symptoms or felt dismissed by doctors, this episode is for you!  

It’s time to celebrate—My MS Podcast is officially one year old! In this anniversary episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of what it was really like to launch this podcast during one of the toughest seasons of my life. I’ll share the lessons I’ve learned about grace, resilience, and what this journey has taught me about living with MS. Join me for a look back on this year and a preview of what’s to come in Season 6!

My family and I have been looking forward to moving into our next home for several years. This year, we're finally getting that opportunity to make that dream come true. But it's not exactly a dream come true when it comes to managing MS. We're moving in the middle of the summer - where the daily forecast is blistering heat and extreme humidity. In today's episode I’m sharing the realities of managing a summer move with MS. It's not just about packing boxes; it's about facing any daunting project and wondering how you’re going to get through without wrecking your health.

Do you ever feel like the summer heat is out to get you? I used to love everything about summer - the hot sun beating down on me when I was at the pool or on the beach and filling the long sunny days with as many activities as possible - then MS came into my world… and with it the heat intolerance. It can make the summer sun feel unbearable. I’m willing to bet that you can relate all too well. Today, I’m sharing some tips that I’ve learned along the way that have really helped me stay cool and keep my energy up. Let’s dive in and make summer enjoyable again.

We're halfway through 2024. Are you on track with the goals that you set back in January?  If you're like most people, probably not. Most of us fall off the bandwagon within days of starting. If you need a summer reset to get back on track with the walls protocol, tune into today's episode. I'm sharing insider tips and mindset strategies that are realistic and doable in everyday life.

It’s the eight year anniversary of my MS diagnosis. Is that something to celebrate? It’s certainly not a happy milestone in my life. But it definitely was life-changing, so ignoring it doesn’t feel right either. Today I’m diving into why this day holds so much significance and how I view it.  

It was a migraine that led me to the neurologist and ultimately to my diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. I was getting excruciating headaches when I was working out.    Something was off.    I went for the MRI and at 8:30 on New Years Eve 2015, my doctor called with the results. You have lesions on the brain that look like MS.    Turns out, I wasn't alone.    Studies suggest that up to 30-40% of people with MS also experience migraine.   It makes sense, both MS and migraines are both neurological conditions so, they share some common ground. And they both involve inflammatory pathways in the body.   But the greatest question is how… How do you live with not one but two unpredictable, chronic conditions that prevent you from living your daily life?    That’s what I’m sharing today. In honor of Migraine Awareness Month, I’m sharing the tips and strategies that I’ve learned from decades of debilitating migraines. What you need to know about conventional medicine and what you need to know about diet and lifestyle.    Let’s dive in!