“I don’t expect to see a cure in my lifetime… but I will never give up hope.”

Some conversations feel bigger than the milestone they represent.

As we reach Episode 100 of the A Couple Takes on MS Podcast, we knew this moment was about more than looking back. It was about honoring the people who helped us move forward.

For us, that starts with Cathy Chester.

In our 100th episode, we sit down with Cathy, an iconic multi-award-winning MS advocate, writer, and someone who has played a meaningful role in helping us find our voice in this space.

She was diagnosed in 1986 and brings nearly four decades of lived experience to a conversation that is honest, reflective, and deeply needed.

We talk about what it really means to age with Multiple Sclerosis, the uncertainty of separating MS from “normal” aging, and how perspective evolves over time.

Cathy shares what it was like navigating a diagnosis before treatments existed, how hope has shifted over the years, and why community and communication still matter now more than ever.

This includes talking about:

• The evolution of MS treatments—and the emotional reality behind them
• Aging with MS: how do you separate progression from aging?
• The mental and emotional side of MS that isn’t talked about enough
• Why hope still matters, even when expectations change
• What it means to “control what you can control” in everyday life

More than anything, this episode is about resilience and learning to live in the unknown while choosing hope.

And this conversation is a reminder that while treatments, timelines, and expectations may change, the need for honest conversations and real connection never does.

If this episode resonates with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it.

And as always, thank you for being part of this journey with us... 100 episodes and counting.

Here are the links that offer further insights into our conversation:

• Check out Cathy’s website An Empowered Spirit

• Enjoy the 7 Questions with A Couple feature with Cathy on our blog from several years ago

• Get social: Follow Cathy on social media, including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

“How would you feel if everybody’s talking about you behind your back? You need to be talking to the actual patient.”

Just days before our conversation for this episode, Briana Landis was on Capitol Hill advocating for the Multiple Sclerosis community and bringing real stories into rooms where decisions are made.

Her work in Multiple Sclerosis advocacy continues to push for better research, access, and patient-centered care.

This is nothing new for Briana.

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at just 4 years old, she has spent her life turning her lived experience into action.

In this episode, Briana, now 28, shares what it means to grow up with MS, step into advocacy, and speak up in spaces where patient voices are often missing.

We take a deep dive with Briana into:

• A behind-the-scenes look at advocating for Multiple Sclerosis on Capitol Hill
• Why patient voices must be part of healthcare conversations
• What it's really like growing up with MS and what still needs to change
• How small moments of advocacy can lead to real impact

Briana does so much more than talk about advocacy. She lives it.

And in doing so, she reminds all of us that our stories carry weight, especially when they’re shared in the right rooms, at the right time.

Here are the links we referenced that offer further insights into our conversation:

• Watch Briana’s TED Talk The Nerve to Synapse: Connecting as My Body Disconnects

• Explore the details about the two priority issues that Briana and nearly 170 activists took to Capitol Hill in late March

• Learn more about how you can share your voice and get involved with advocacy through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

• Donate to support Briana’s fundraising efforts for Briana’s Team at the Raleigh Walk MS event

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Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

In this episode of A Couple Takes on MS, we welcome Brian Wallace, a former University of Michigan offensive lineman who helped lead the Wolverines to four Big Ten championships and three Rose Bowl appearances.

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1997 at age 27, Brian has spent nearly three decades navigating life with MS while continuing to move forward. Today, Brian hosts the MS Michigan Man 64 Podcast, where he shares honest conversations about life with chronic illness and the mindset it takes to keep going.

Brian joins us to talk about football, life after diagnosis, the mental challenges of chronic illness, and why community and conversation matter so much in the MS world.

• His journey from Michigan football to living with MS
• How a competitive mindset helped shape his approach to the disease
• How isolation can affect people living with chronic illness and the importance of community
• Why he started the MS Michigan Man 64 Podcast to focus on positive, honest conversations about life with MS
• The emotional and mental health challenges of living with Multiple Sclerosis
• Why building community and sharing stories matters

👉 You can explore Brian’s podcast here: MS Michigan Man 64 Podcast

From our blog Reflecting on the conversation with Brian, Jennifer recently revisited an essay she wrote about the Michigan football game she missed shortly after her MS diagnosis and the lesson it taught her about living with Multiple Sclerosis without regrets.

👉 Read the essay here: The biggest Michigan game I missed and the lesson MS taught me

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Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.