Rephonic
Artwork for RealTalk MS

RealTalk MS

Jon Strum
Multiple Sclerosis
Disease-Modifying Therapies
National MS Society
Vision Issues
Neurology
Optical Coherence Tomography
Optic Neuritis
Dunk MS
Diagnosis
Exercise Programs
Teaams Study
Aging and MS
Clinical Trials
Pacific Neuroscience Institute
Neurorehabilitation
General Health
Socioeconomic Disparities
Telehealth
Vitamin D
Healthcare Education

Jon Strum cuts through all the jargon and breaks down the latest multiple sclerosis news. You'll meet the scientists who are creating tomorrow's MS treatments today. You'll hear from the experts discussing how the latest tweaks and changes to our healthcare laws will impact your MS treatment. And we'll be talking to the courageous MS warriors who are out there advocating on behalf of the MS commun... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes501Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessMedicine

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for RealTalk MS

Latest Episodes

In 1988, there were just 42 Walk MS events, raising approximately $4 million. In 2025, there were 170 events across the country that raised over $30 million. As the largest private funder of MS research in the world, the National MS Society relies on... more

175 MS activists are heading to Washington, D.C. next week for the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference. Their mission: to bring the concerns of the MS community directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

When it comes to the legislative sup... more

It's MS Awareness Week, and this year we're diving into a theme that hits home for millions: Unseen MS. Multiple sclerosis is a master of disguise; it can be entirely invisible to the naked eye while remaining profoundly life-altering for the person ... more

You know them by their trade names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. This class of medications is known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. And while they are best known for managing diabetes and promoting weight loss, researchers are finding ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Nutrition Diva
Nutrition DivaQuickAndDirtyTips.com, Monica Reinagel
The MSing Link
The MSing LinkDr. Gretchen Hawley PT, DPT, MSCS
Chasing Life
Chasing LifeCNN Podcasts

Recent Guests

Steffany Stern
Vice President of Advocacy at the National MS Society
National MS Society
Episode: Episode 446: MS Advocacy and the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference with Steffany Stern
Kristine Werner Ozug
Member of Real Talk MS team, living with MS and sharing her journey
Real Talk MS
Episode: Episode 445: It's MS Awareness Week with Kristine Werner Ozug and Kim, Kim, and Kim
Kim P
Kim P, diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 2008
Real Talk MS panel
Episode: Episode 445: It's MS Awareness Week with Kristine Werner Ozug and Kim, Kim, and Kim
Kim W
Kim W, diagnosed with primary progressive MS in 2022
Real Talk MS panel
Episode: Episode 445: It's MS Awareness Week with Kristine Werner Ozug and Kim, Kim, and Kim
Kim Fredsall
Physical therapist at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Connecticut
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare
Episode: Episode 445: It's MS Awareness Week with Kristine Werner Ozug and Kim, Kim, and Kim
Dr. Ellen Mowry
Principal investigator in the GLP-1 MS trial
University affiliation mentioned in discussion (researcher on progressive MS)
Episode: Episode 444: Treating MS with a GLP-1 with Dr. Ellen Mowry
Dr. Jeffrey Cohen
Neurologist at Cleveland Clinic's Mellon Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Director of Experimental Therapeutics Program
Cleveland Clinic
Episode: Episode 442: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum (Part 2) with Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, and Kristine Werner Ozug
Dr. Manuel Friese
Clinician-scientist at the Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis in Germany and winner of the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research.
Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis
Episode: Episode 441: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum with Dr. Manuel Friese, Dr. Amit Bar-Or, and Dr. Haritha Desu
Dr. Amit Bar-Or
Director of the Center for Neuroinflammation and Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania.
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Episode 441: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum with Dr. Manuel Friese, Dr. Amit Bar-Or, and Dr. Haritha Desu

Host

Jon Strum
Host of RealTalk MS

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 219 ratings
  • Because Science

    This podcast makes MS research approachable without losing the depth that actually matters.

    I value how the host, Jon Strum, walks through the latest research and explains not just the WHAT, but WHY it matters—what it could mean for treatment, progression, and everyday life with MS. Jon helps turn complex studies into something you can understand and think about.

    Listening to this podcast makes me more informed. It’s become a go-to for staying up-to-date on MS research in a way that is clear, th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zia Nova
    United States6 days ago
  • Amazing and informative! I love how things are broken down for easy understanding.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    PodcastListenerL
    a month ago
  • Use your voice

    Excellent podcast 10/28/25. US Const protects MS pts. Current admin disallows DOJ to prosecute. In this situation, ride your State & US Reps hard. Speak out loud about this. Strongly consider not only suing co but also Board Members of co personally. That’s where you will see change. Too often folks are unaware that Board Members jobs are demanded legally. Therefore, if they fail to esp deliberately to do their duties, they are in violation of most often reg law. Seek out an admin or reg attorne... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Written Art
    United States5 months ago
  • Helpful and inspiring

    Wow- I can’t believe I just found out about this podcast! It is so informative and keeps me educated on so many things. The resources provided are super!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bubblesforver123
    United States2 years ago
  • Episode after episode I come away feeling far better informed and empowered. Jon is gifted at breaking down the science in ways we can all understand. He also works very hard to deliver on topics that are close to many of our hearts in really important ways. Also his work before and during the podcast is only outdone by the "Session Notes" and the "Bonus Content" that make it so easy to access information, materials, research, etc. We are thrilled that he is so committed and so impactful.

    Podchaser
    5
    John Bradley
    3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many reviews emphasize the show's usefulness as a reliable MS information source and appreciate the range of topics from clinical trials to caregiver perspectives.
Some listeners note strong callouts for accessibility and actionable insights, while a few mention a desire for broader guest diversity or more patient-centric storytelling.
Audience resonates with the mix of cutting-edge research and lived experience, and often mentions the host's ability to surface policy and advocacy angles.
Overall, listeners describe the host as knowledgeable and the guests as top-tier experts, with clear, accessible discussion that translates complex science for a broad audience.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 446: MS Advocacy and the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference with Steffany Stern
Q: How will the Public Policy Conference shape next year's funding and policy actions?
The conference aims to solidify commitments for fiscal year 27 funding levels (MS Research Program at $22 million and CDMRP at $1.626 billion) and to push for health care reforms that maintain access and affordability, with activists on the ground gathering intelligence and meeting with champions on Capitol Hill.
Episode 446: MS Advocacy and the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference with Steffany Stern
Q: What were the biggest advocacy wins in the last year and how did activists achieve them?
Activists conducted hundreds of Hill visits, built bipartisan support, and leveraged a coalition including Crossroads Strategies to secure funding and policy protections, such as restoring $15 million to the MS research program and advancing PBM reforms.
Episode 441: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum with Dr. Manuel Friese, Dr. Amit Bar-Or, and Dr. Haritha Desu
Q: How might your research help us develop treatments for people who already have active inflammation within their central nervous system?
The research focuses on identifying markers on peripheral immune cells that can be targeted to prevent them from causing further damage once they are in the brain.
Episode 441: The 2026 ACTRIMS Forum with Dr. Manuel Friese, Dr. Amit Bar-Or, and Dr. Haritha Desu
Q: For someone living with MS, what does it mean to change the focus from stopping the attacker, the immune system, to fortifying the house, protecting that nerve cell?
Changing the focus means understanding that once a diagnosis is established, prior adjustments may already have occurred in the nerve cells themselves, and research emphasizes the need to address these cellular changes.
Episode 440: An MS Specialist's Response to the FDA with Dr. William Conte
Q: What is the risk of doing nothing for patients with progressive MS?
Dr. Conte emphasizes that the consequences of under-treatment can lead to greater long-term disability compared to the potentially rare side effects of newer drugs, advocating for a balanced risk-benefit analysis.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About RealTalk MS

What is RealTalk MS about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on MS research, treatment advances, and real-world implications for people living with multiple sclerosis. Episodes frequently feature top neurologists and researchers discussing new trial results, diagnostic innovations, and emerging therapies, often paired with patient advocates or individuals living with MS who share lived experiences. The tone balances scientific rigor with practical, policy, and everyday-life considerations, making it useful for patients, caregivers, clinicians, advocates, and industry professionals seeking the latest developments and their real-world impact. A standout is the consistent pairing of cutting-edge research with patient perspectives, plus attention to regulatory and healthcare access issu... more

Where can I find podcast stats for RealTalk MS?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for RealTalk MS. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to RealTalk MS and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does RealTalk MS get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for RealTalk MS, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for RealTalk MS?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for RealTalk MS, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does RealTalk MS have?

To see how many followers or subscribers RealTalk MS has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to RealTalk MS?

These podcasts share a similar audience with RealTalk MS:

1. MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie Lynn Sigler
2. Nutrition Diva
3. The MSing Link
4. Chasing Life
5. The Telepathy Tapes

How many episodes of RealTalk MS are there?

RealTalk MS launched 9 years ago and published 501 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact RealTalk MS?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for RealTalk MS?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for RealTalk MS from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for RealTalk MS?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of RealTalk MS. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on RealTalk MS?

Recent guests on RealTalk MS include:

1. Steffany Stern
2. Kristine Werner Ozug
3. Kim P
4. Kim W
5. Kim Fredsall
6. Dr. Ellen Mowry
7. Dr. Jeffrey Cohen
8. Dr. Manuel Friese

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days