Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

Bonus from the Archives: Using exercise to build neuroplasticity with Dr Gretchen Hawley | S8 Bonus

Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

Show Notes

Can exercise help your brain and body adapt when you’re living with MS? In this episode of Living Well with MS, host Geoff Allix speaks with Dr Gretchen Hawley, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist, about movement, neuroplasticity and living well with MS. Dr Hawley explains how exercise can support strength, balance, walking and everyday confidence. She shares why movement quality, repetition and rest all matter, and how functional exercises can help with daily activities such as stairs, getting into a car or standing up from the floor. The episode also explores fatigue, heat sensitivity and how to adapt exercise to your own symptoms and energy levels. Originally broadcast in 2020, this episode has been edited to remove out-of-date content and reuploaded in 2026 to ensure it remains relevant and useful.

More from Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

Oct 21, 2026

In this episode of Living Well with MS -- where we explore topics relating to living a full and healthy life with multiple sclerosis -- we are pleased to welcome Vickie Hadge as our guest! Vickie is an Overcoming MS facilitator who has lived with MS for 20 years. She talks with podcast producer Gina Beach about MS symptom management for physical and cognitive symptoms. Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio. 02:04 Introduction to MS and why we get symptoms 05:59 Fatigue Management 15:25 Mobility and Balance 19:01 Sensory Symptoms 21:33 Vision Changes 23:23 Bladder and Bowel Symptoms 25:45 Cognitive Issues 27:13 Mood and Emotional Wellbeing 30:35 Q&A

Oct 14, 2026

In this episode of Living Well with MS -- where we explore topics relating to living a full and healthy life with multiple sclerosis -- we are pleased to welcome Jose Segurado as our guest! Jose is an integrative health and life coach and who lives with MS and follows the Overcoming MS program. Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio. 02:44 The Turning Point: From Diagnosis to Action 05:04 Finding Hope and Information 07:33 Overcoming MS: A Framework for Change 10:07 The Importance of Diet and Lifestyle Changes 12:10 Listening to Yourself: The Key to True Health 14:35 Building a Sustainable Lifestyle 16:10 Understanding Multiple Sclerosis 16:51 Understanding Stress and Emotional Well-being 19:52 The Gut-Brain Connection 22:17 Taking Responsibility for Your Well-being 24:54 Redefining Identity and Purpose

Oct 7, 2026

Mari L. McCarthy is an award-winning and international bestselling author whose books Journaling Power: How to Create the Happy, Healthy Life You Want to Live and Heal Yourself with Journaling Power have introduced people around the world to the power journaling has to help heal the body. After losing feeling and function in the right side of her body in 1998, Mari was diagnosed with MS. Undaunted, she took up a daily journaling practice which over time helped improve her MS symptoms to the extent that she is now an accomplished recording artist with three full-length albums. Mari’s website, CreateWriteNow.com, is the platform she runs to share her methods, expertise and passion for journaling. Originally broadcast in 2020, this episode has been edited to remove out-of-date content and reuploaded in 2026 to ensure it remains relevant and useful.

Sep 30, 2026

In this episode of Living Well with MS -- where we explore topics relating to living a full and healthy life with multiple sclerosis -- we are pleased to welcome Brett Drummond and Karen Campbell. Brett is from MSTranslate and hosts the European Committee for Treatment and Research In Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) patient day and podcast. Karen is a nurse and MS researcher who lives with MS and attended the conference this year. Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio. 00:00 Introduction to ECTRIMS 2025 and Speakers 02:02 Overview of ECTRIMS Conference Highlights 02:41 Brett's Insights on MS Research 09:07 Emerging Treatments and Therapies for MS 15:10 The Role of Viruses in MS 18:28 Lifestyle Modifications and Rehabilitation in MS 20:03 Biomarkers and Their Importance in MS 24:24 Engaging the MS Community in Research 28:24 Karen's Perspective as a Patient and Researcher 33:55 Q&A Session: Addressing Community Questions

Sep 23, 2026

In this episode of Living Well with MS -- where we explore topics relating to living a full and healthy life with multiple sclerosis -- we are pleased to welcome Véronique Gauthier-Simmons as our guest! Véronique is a yoga and breathwork teacher who lives with MS and the author of Taming the Walrus: Inner Intelligence, Yoga, and the Science of Healthy Ageing. Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio. 02:05 Journey with MS: Reluctance, Learning, and Transformation 05:25 The Unexpected Love for Yoga 07:16 Taming the Walrus: Insights from the Book 15:25 The Importance of Interoception 19:55 Movement for Healthy Aging: Strength, Stretching, and Speed 26:08 Breathwork: A Tool for Wellbeing 32:09 The Necessity of Deep Rest 34:42 Longevity: Quality of Life Over Quantity 37:38 Healing: Wholeness and Inner Alignment 39:54 Final Thoughts for Those Recently Diagnosed with MS

See all episodes →