The MS Gym Podcast Co-hosts: Brooke Slick & Jodi Feltham

I have the privilege today to interview our latest guest Dr. Samantha Roman, better known on TikTok as Dr. Sam. You'll learn valuable insights from our guest, who's not only a John Hopkins MS-trained neurologist, but a fellow MS warrior. In today's podcast, we'll discuss Dr. Sam's:
Extensive education in mental health and neuroimmunology 
Experiences in MS research
Initial symptoms, diagnosis, and MS treatments
Experience with "medical student syndrome"
Views on diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices
Following on social media, most notably TikTok
Desire to educate our community about all things MS
Thoughts on therapy treatments in dealing with chronic illnesses
Views on treatment risks and efficacy for each person
Involvement in the "Treat MS trial"
Distrust of the internet and the spread of misinformation
Bewilderment about the TikTok myth of "MS and parasites"
Advice to the newly diagnosed
Recommendations about reputable and educational MS resources
Links
Dr. Sam on TikTok 
thatmssdoc on Instagram
thatmsdoc on Facebook
The MS Gym

Join us for our podcast as we learn more about Brenda, one of the Original Gymmers (OG) in The MS Gym. Today, she'll talk about her:
Initial symptoms
Unexpected diagnosis
DMT and treatment choices
Journey to find The MS Gym
Her commitment to exercise
Her change in vocation
Travel bug origins
Mobility aids that assist her in her passion for global travel
Upcoming plans
Advice to fellow Chronic Illness Warriors
MS Gym Links
The MS Gym

Life can change so quickly when diagnosed with a chronic illness. Things we once held tightly to like our jobs, hobbies, abilities, family and friends can disappear in the blink of an eye. We can find ourselves lost and isolated from the world around us. Today’s podcast guest tells us how she channelled her own struggles, fear and uncertainty into her TikTok videos and created a safe space and community for others who are struggling with chronic illness. What started out as a wobbly dance turned into 41,000 engaged followers, and a whole world of purpose.
Join me as we get social with Julie and learn about:
Her initial symptoms and diagnosis
Her struggles raising young children
How she had to forego continuing education
Her medication dilemmas and complications
Her dedication to exercise
How she started posting on Tiktok
What motivates her daily videos
Why she is so loved by her 41,000 followers
Her speaking opportunities with #sothisisms
Her hobbies, interests and desires
Her advice for the newly diagnosed
How she deals with the difficult days
The message she wants to shout out
Links:
The MS Gym
Connect with Julie on TikTok
Connect with Jodi on TikTok ,  Facebook

Social media is all around us and is a valuable tool for spreading knowledge, influencing others, and creating awareness. Today, we will learn from Toronto-born Christina Andaya as she shares about how she uses social media to:
Create community and share about her own MS journey
Raise awareness about atypical MS symptoms and unusual diagnosis in minority ethnic groups
Collaborate with organizations, such as MS Canada and #sothisisMS
Showcase her involvement in the Miss Galaxy Canada competition
Explore career opportunities
Learn more about Christina Andaya.
Instagram
Christina Andaya - Social Media Marketing Specialist
 

Today's episode is a super special one because I get to reintroduce and/or introduce the MS Gym to the masses.
The MS Gym has been around for almost 6 years and has thousands of followers, but there are upwards of 3 million people worldwide who have MS, so there's always someone newly diagnosed out there or just discovering us who may want to know more about exactly who we are. 
Who's the founder? Where's it located? What's it all about? How can I benefit from it? And, what does it cost?
Our audience is going to get all of that information and more in today's episode as I had the unique opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with the creator and founder of the MS Gym, Coach Trevor Wicken. Let's goooo!
EPISODE NOTES:
- Its founder, programs, and pricing
- Reintroducing The MS Gym
- What is it?
- What is neuroplasticity?
- The role of the central nervous system.
- The brain is plastic
- The truth about neural pathways
- Trevor's credentials
- His own neurologic events 
- Defending MS practitioners who don't have MS
- Fighting for people's lives
- The free online resources and where you can access them
- The difference between the free MS Gym information and the paid for program
- When you want more structure
- Details on the paid-for products and programs 
- The Members Only Corner (MOC)
- The value of community and connection
- Mindset training
- A healing lifestyle
- Can you continue your regular exercise while using The MS Gym programs?
- Where to start
- Two of the most popular free programs
- Programs for people who use wheelchairs and/or mobility aids
- Full program pricing: semi-annual, annual, monthly
- Link to a promotional discount for podcast listeners 
- Are the programs self-paced?
- The MS Gym app
- Consistently up-leveling the programs
- What the MS Gym isn't
- A fun random question about food 
LINKS:
THE MS GYM:
Website
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram
The MS Gym Programs and Products with Pricing:
Symptom Solutions
Individual Products
Membership Program including Members Only Community (MOC)
SPECIAL PROMOTION PRICING! (mentioned in this podcast episode) 
BROOKE SLICK:
Website
Instagram
 
 

With summer, vacation months upon us, at least here in the U.S., for those of us living with mobility issues, it adds on an extra layer of complexity and consideration into planning a trip.Things like...Is your vacation rental gonna have steps? Is it going to have an elevator? Are you going to be able to get to your connecting flight fast enough through the airport? Are you going to hold everybody back because you're slow? Are you even going to be able to enjoy yourself on the trip? You know what I'm talking about. 
Today's guest is going to tell you how you can conquer all of your fears with ease...on a scooter. That's right. It's the mobility device you didn't know you needed. Maybe the mere thought of using one makes you want to stop listening. Maybe you think you're not ready or bad enough yet to use a scooter.
Well, you can keep wasting your time and your physical energy trying to get all of your daily tasks completed. You can struggle through trying to keep up with the crowd. You can continue to rely on others to get you where you need or want to go. Or, you can listen to today's guest debunk all of your misgivings and tell you how it's done.
Join me in welcoming Jodi Johnson, one of our fellow MS Gymmers, to the podcast. 
EPISODE NOTES:
- Rapid decline
- Most symptoms -related
- Persistent foot drop
- Tripping
- Enter mobility aids
- From strolling to rolling
- Starting with canes
- The joy and frustration that came with deciding to use a mobility aid
- Embarrassment
- Traveling with aids
- Discovering a workaround for walking longer distances
- Renting a wheelchair even though she wasn't "ready"
- Feeling small
- Being an ambulatory wheelchair user
- Trying out a walker/wheelchair combo…even in Portugal and Costa Rica
- Getting unapologetically used to using a mobility aid
- Mobility aids in the home
- Getting her first scooter
- Pride Gogo Scooter
- Shocked at the freedom and portability of a scooter
- Going to the mall again!
- Getting her independence back
- Using multiple mobility aids depending on how she was feeling on any given day
- Canes/walker/wheelchair/scooter
- Acquiring her bumblebee scooter
- Flying with a foldable scooter
- The Transformer by Solax
- Getting a lift for her car - Bruno Scooter Lifts for vehicles
- Opening up doors for travel
- Been on over 40+ flights
- Being aware of potential airline damage
LINKS:
Jodi Johnson on Instagram
Pride Gogo Scooter
Solax Transformer Automatic Folding Scooter
Bruno Scooter Lifts for vehicles
THE MS GYM:
Website
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram
BROOKE SLICK:
Website
Instagram