In this episode of Living Well with MS, Alex Holden (Chief Executive of Overcoming MS) is joined by Rachel Johnson, Overcoming MS’s Information and Research Manager, and Dr Jonathan White, the charity’s Medical Advisor and Program Facilitator. Together they explore what the latest evidence says about lifestyle and self-management in MS – and why it’s an increasingly exciting time for MS research and treatment. They also share what Overcoming MS is working on in 2026, including improved evaluation of our programmes, new symptom-focused resources, and progress towards achieving the PIF TICK quality mark for trusted health information.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.

01:56 Meet Rachel Johnson: background in psychology, research methods and why she joined Overcoming MS

04:04 Jonny’s role and why sharing research clearly (and credibly) matters

05:33 Rachel’s priorities: improving information quality and evaluating impact

07:16 Supporting healthcare professionals to signpost trusted lifestyle resources

09:06 What’s coming up in 2026: evaluation findings, information strategy and symptom-based resources

11:05 Jonny’s 2026 highlights: Pathways, retreats and the BSLM lifestyle medicine module

14:24 How the Overcoming MS programme aligns with the latest lifestyle research

16:57 Making the programme practical: diet quality, Mediterranean-style eating and “big picture” habits

18:54 Talking to your MS team about lifestyle: confidence, language, and keeping your agenda clear

23:05 Why robust evaluation matters: pre-post surveys, validated measures and long-term follow-up

27:31 Getting involved in research: MS Register, university studies and opportunities shared via the Hub

31:41 What is PIF TICK and why it matters for trustworthy MS lifestyle information

36:04 What’s exciting in MS research right now: treatments, progressive MS, and novel therapies

40:13 Why credibility and clear communication are key to shifting the “no evidence” narrative

• Listen to the Talking with Skeptics webinar with Jonny and Yasmin Neves

• Tell your health team about Overcoming MS resources for healthcare professionals

• Sign up for the next free Pathway to Overcoming MS course
• Join the MS Register in the UK
• New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page
• Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
• Visit the Overcoming MS website

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Pinterest

• Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.
• Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.