Ben Hofmeister was diagnosed with primary progressive MS in 2014, ending a 22-year career in the U.S. Army as both a Ranger and Green Beret. After being inspired by the writing of others with MS, he decided to add his own voice to the community.
Listen in as they discuss how to live a fun and fulfilling life with a serious disease, how writing helps Ben with his own MS, and what inspires him to keep giving it his best.

Join the conversation on our MS forums: www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/forums/

Follow us on social media:
Instagram – www.instagram.com/msnewstoday
Facebook – www.facebook.com/multiplesclerosisnewstoday
X – x.com/MSNewsToday

For more news on MS, visit: www.instagram.com/msnewstoday/

Jenn sits with MS News Today columnist Ben Hofmeister

Do you know someone living with Multiple Sclerosis? This week is MS Awareness Week and currently 2.9 people in the world have MS. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). RAGBRAI Ride Director Matt Phippen is one of those people living with MS. On this special episode, Matt talks about his MS journey. We also have special guests:  Matt’s physician, Dr Hughes who is the Medical Director at MercyOne Neurosciences, and also Kathleen O’Donnell, the Upper Midwest Chapter President of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/
Bike MS: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=1232&language=en
RAGBRAI Gives: https://ragbrai.com/gives/
Registration for RAGBRAI LII is open! www.ragbrai.com
Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast
Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com.

Episode 343: Living, and Biking, with Multiple Sclerosis

Brandon Beaber, MD, is a neuroimmunologist and MS specialist based at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles. He’s amassed more than 36,000 followers on YouTube by using engaging imagery to break down some of the more complicated facets of MS for those living with the condition.
Join them as they discuss the varied nature of MS, aging with the disease, and potential clinical trials for those over 55.

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/DrBrandonBeaber

Join the conversation on our MS forums: www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/forums/

Follow us on social media:
Instagram – www.instagram.com/msnewstoday
Facebook – www.facebook.com/multiplesclerosisnewstoday
X – x.com/MSNewsToday

For more news on MS, visit: www.instagram.com/msnewstoday/

Jenn sits with neuroimmunologist Dr. Brandon Beaber

Read the transcript - https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/MileStones-Winter%202024_2025-Transcription.pdf

In this fascinating episode, Carly Wender, PhD, research scientist in the Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research at Kessler Foundation, shares her groundbreaking research that combines cycling with virtual reality technology to boost cognitive function in people with multiple sclerosis. She answers the question: How does aerobic exercise promote neurogenesis and offer new hope for those facing mobility challenges?

The episode also features an inspiring conversation with Valerie Bowen-Towns, who shares her transformative journey from MS diagnosis to finding renewed purpose through adaptive exercise. Her story showcases how participating in innovative therapies and technology has helped her maintain independence and quality of life. 

Tune in to hear how virtual reality and exercise are changing lives, one pedal stroke at a time.

Key Takeaways:
The combination of cycling and virtual reality is being used as a tool to enhance cognitive function in individuals with multiple sclerosis, showcasing innovative approaches to rehabilitation.

Aerobic exercise is linked to neurogenesis, suggesting that physical activity can promote brain health and cognitive improvement in those with mobility challenges.

Personal resilience and adaptive exercise can significantly transform the lives of individuals with MS, shifting their focus from despair to hope and independence.

Article Timestamps:

Introduction - 0:00 - 0:28
The Cycling Issue - 0:30 - 1:04
Exercising the brain by Dr. Carly Wender - 1:05 - 2:01
6 tips to exercise safely - 2:02 - 2:58
Two studies, one goal - 2:59 - 3:53 (3:10 - 3:22 audio quote from Dr. Wender)
Researcher spotlight - 3:54 - 4:30
In person: Finding hope and confidence: Valerie Bowen-Townes  - 4:31 - 5:13
Your help wanted! -  5:14 - 7:42
End - 7:43- 8:09

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Read this newsletter at https://kesslerfoundation.org/milestones-winter-2024-2025

Missed a newsletter, check out our Mile Stones archives, https://kesslerfoundation.org/publication-archives#block-kessler-views-block-multiple-sclerosis-newsletter-block-1-2

Interested in participating in our research remotely or in-person? Go to KesslerFoundation.org/join

=========================================================
Kessler Foundation uses AI voices and narrators to make our media as accessible as possible. These tools help us ensure that individuals with visual or cognitive impairments are not prevented from accessing the materials that Kessler Foundation uses to change the lives of people with disabilities. 
 
These automated voices may not correctly capture intonation or pronunciation that may be clearer in the accompanying text. If you encounter any issues related to Kessler Foundation's use of AI narrators in our multimedia content, please reach out to Communications@KesslerFoundation.org

=======================================================
Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure and subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded in May 2024 and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

Discover how virtual reality cycling is revolutionizing MS treatment and cognitive enhancement!



Aaron Boster, MD, is a board-certified neurologist specializing in MS and related central nervous system inflammatory disorders. He decided to become an MS doctor at age 12 as he watched his uncle Mark suffer from the disease in an era before treatment was available.

Join them as they talk about the importance of discussing difficult-to broach topics, the benefits of a comprehensive care team, and what Dr. Boster sees as the next game-changing news for the MS community.

Join the conversation on our MS forums: www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/forums/

Follow us on social media:
Instagram – www.instagram.com/msnewstoday
Facebook – www.facebook.com/multiplesclerosisnewstoday
X – x.com/MSNewsToday

For more news on MS, visit: www.instagram.com/msnewstoday/


Jenn sits with neurologist and media sensation Dr. Aaron Boster

Read the transcript, https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/Your%20Impact%20SPRING%202025%20Audio%20Newsletter%20TRANSCRIPT.pdf

Steps Toward Healing: Breakthroughs in Brain Injury and Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation

A groundbreaking study at Kessler Foundation, led by Karen Nolan, PhD, associate director in the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering, is exploring the combined use of spinal cord stimulation and gait training to improve mobility in people with traumatic brain injury. This innovative approach aims to enhance brain plasticity and restore walking ability by delivering electrical impulses to the spinal cord while participants engage in structured walking exercises. Physical therapist Christina Dandola plays a key role in supporting participants and tracking their progress. The study could significantly improve quality of life for people with TBI and potentially inform treatments for other neurological conditions.

In a parallel effort to address health disparities, Cristina Román, PhD, adjunct research scientist in the Center for Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Research, is leading a national study on how healthcare barriers and cardiovascular risks contribute to accelerated brain aging in Hispanic people with multiple sclerosis. Funded by a prestigious NIH award, the study will gather both personal experiences and brain imaging data to better understand how social determinants of health impact MS progression. Dr. Román hopes the findings will lead to more equitable care and improved outcomes for underserved populations, emphasizing the importance of timely and consistent medical intervention.


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Article Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome
01:20 - When two is more powerful than one
04:18 - Stepping into research
06:17 - Under the looking glass (How healthcare barriers and medical risks impact Hispanics with multiple sclerosis)
09:15 - Your support means more
10:17 - Episode Wrap-Up

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Kessler Foundation researchers mentioned by order of articles:

Karen Nolan, PhD Associate Director, https://KesslerFoundation.org/aboutus/Karen-Nolan

Christina Dandola, PT, https://KesslerFoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/christina-dandola-pt-dpt-ncs

===========================================
Newsletter website links:

Ways to give - For more information, please contact us at (973) 324-8430 or Development@KesslerFoundation.org

Read this issue at https://KesslerFoundation.org/2025-spring-your-impact-newsletter

=========================================================
Kessler Foundation uses AI voices and narrators to make our media as accessible as possible. These tools help us ensure that individuals with visual or cognitive impairments are not prevented from accessing the materials that Kessler Foundation uses to change the lives of people with disabilities. 
 
These automated voices may not correctly capture intonation or pronunciation that may be clearer in the accompanying text. If you encounter any issues related to Kessler Foundation's use of AI narrators in our multimedia content, please reach out to Communications@KesslerFoundation.org

=========================================================
Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure and subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded in June 2025 and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

Steps Toward Healing: Breakthroughs in Brain Injury and Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Research

Keane Talks about her Discovery of Finding Out she had Multiple Sclerosis

MS Unscripted "Keane's Different Ability"

Read the transcript, https://KesslerFoundation.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/Breakthrough%20Technologies%20Transform%20Lives_rom%20VR%20Games%20to%20Robotic%20Rehab-2024%20Impact%20Report%20Transcript.pdf

In this episode, we explore how Kessler Foundation is transforming the future of rehabilitation medicine through groundbreaking research and innovative technology. Discover how virtual reality is helping stroke survivors recover at home and how robotic exoskeletons are helping people regain mobility. 

We also dive into the Foundation supporting people with spinal cord injury and their families through the SCI Navigator program, empowering neurodiverse individuals through Kessler Foundation's Strength Identification and Expression web-based training curriculum, and enhancing cognitive health in aging adults with the modified Story Memory Technique. From robotics to vocational training, these advancements are paving the way to greater independence and improved quality of life. Tune in for inspiring stories of resilience and the remarkable breakthroughs reshaping neurological rehabilitation.

===========================================
Article Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome
01:28 - Your impact: accelerating breakthrough
05:03 - Your impact: moving the goalposts
08:40 - Your impact: easing the journey 
12:09 - Your impact: targeting strengths
15:57 - Your impact:  Advancing Mobility
19:24 - Your impact:  Aging Well
22:29 - Your impact:  Challenging the status quo  
25:11 - Episode Wrap-Up

===========================================
Kessler Foundation researchers mentioned by order of articles:

Gail Forrest, PhD, https://KesslerFoundation.org/aboutus/Gail%20Forrest
Claudia Angeli, PhD, https://KesslerFoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/claudia-angeli-phd
Enrico Rejc, PhD, https://KesslerFoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/enrico-rejc-phd
Steven Kirshblum, MD, https://KesslerFoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/steven-kirshblum-md
Christina Dandola,https://KesslerFoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/christina-dandola-pt-dpt-ncs)
Peii Chen, PhD, https://KesslerFoundation.org/aboutus/Peii%20Chen
Denise Fyffe, PhD, https://KesslerFoundation.org/aboutus/Denise%20Fyffe
Helen Genova, PhD, https://KesslerFoundation.org/aboutus/Helen-Genova
Karen J. Nolan, PhD, https://KesslerFoundation.org/aboutus/Karen-Nolan
Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, https://KesslerFoundation.org/aboutus/Nancy%20Chiaravalloti
Elaine Katz, https://KesslerFoundation.org/aboutus/Elaine%20Katz

===========================================
Newsletter website links:

Ways to give - For more information, please contact us at (973) 324-8430 or Development@KesslerFoundation.org

Read this issue at https://KesslerFoundation.org/2024-impact-report

=========================================================
Kessler Foundation uses AI voices and narrators to make our media as accessible as possible. These tools help us ensure that individuals with visual or cognitive impairments are not prevented from accessing the materials that Kessler Foundation uses to change the lives of people with disabilities. 
 
These automated voices may not correctly capture intonation or pronunciation that may be clearer in the accompanying text. If you encounter any issues related to Kessler Foundation's use of AI narrators in our multimedia content, please reach out to Communications@KesslerFoundation.org

=========================================================
Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure and subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded in June 2025 and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

Breakthrough Technologies Transform Lives: From VR Games to Robotic Rehab

Caring for the Caregivers (with some help from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

hinc illae lacrimae

hinc illae lacrimae (poem)

Kessler Foundation - Changing the lives of people with disabilities through research in stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis,  spinal cord injury and by funding innovative programs that promote employment for people with disabilities. Podcasts are from various consumer and professional lectures   presented by our researchers and guest lecturers.

The award winning JustGoBike Podcast is all about the culture of biking just for the fun of it, and tales from the RAGBRAI Nation. Your hosts Kathy Murphy (Murphology), and Andrea Parrott (RAGBRAI and ParrotTalk), are joined by a variety of guests each week that delve into the social side of cycling. 

Come for the bikes, stay for the fun, leave with a smile.  
So…. just go bike!

Theme song by Ryan Stier
Logo by Suzanne Milosevich
Intro by Pumpkin

Truth Seekers, Esoteric, Metaphysical, Occult

ON THE WAKE UP RADIO 
www.onthewakeupradio.com (listen 365 24/7)
OTWTUBE.com Uncensored Free Speech Platform
scheduled Host 
7 days a week 24/7

Zest and Sophia
Hosts Kbvisions and Sophia

Thoughts of a light skin woman
@boricuangie

The Miseducation of Stevie B
Host @kingstevie93
The Tune In
Host @Jolenestar
Truth, Freedom & Sophia
Host @sophiaDurbano

YarimaKarama
Host @Yarimakarama

The Center
host @dc.radical1

'Make Me Free'' 
host @joel_sajji

'On the wake up' 
host @kazcut cohost @masonicmarine


Black Voices Uncensored
@therealremyredd

 'Event horizon'
host Kbvisions @kbvisions1

Resonance 
host @cafeamericainpodcast

The Morningstar Show 
host @supasly75

Walkers Appeal/ The Appeal 
host @theozlife 
Co Host @robertgwilliams

Multiple Sclerosis News Today seeks to fill an unmet need in healthcare news journalism by providing patients and their families with a reliable news journal on MS that they can engage with on a daily basis for the latest news and MS resources.

New tracks tagged #Multiple Sclerosis