MSMS Returns

Why MSMS needed to take a pause - and soon a dive into this year's  Podcasthon, coming next month. 

Podcasthon takes us on a path toward helping others who live with neurological disease, listen as Colleen explains.

If any episode of this podcast has meant something to you, if a story has helped you feel less alone or better understood, or maybe you learnt something through hearing someone else's MS experience, there are ways that you can help to continue this podcast. If you just share an episode with a friend, somebody you know who might find some value in it as well. That makes a huge difference, please share - to help another or to help raise awareness.

Transcript

Honouring Stories And DIY Production

Building Better Foundations And Gear

Broadening Beyond MS To Neurology

Joining Podcast Thon For MND

Gratitude And What Comes Next

Speaker 0:08

Hello everyone and welcome, welcome back to MSMS The Many Stories of Multiple Sclerosis Wow, it's been a little while and if you've been wondering whether this podcast MSMS if you've been wondering if it was still here, the answer is yes. Very much yes. Sometimes things go quiet, not because something's finished or ended, but because something's growing. And that's kind of what's been happening here around MSMS. And why did we have to stop? Well, partly it's life 'cause you know it is just me. But the podcast has always been about stories. So when we share our stories, we're answering questions for other people, and that's a good thing. But in recording those conversations, there's a lot of preparation there, and you know, I love it. I do it because the stories are worth it, so I I want to honour those stories. But I do have to prepare for them, and then there's the recording and the editing of those conversations. Anyone who's told their story um with me, you'll know that I make goofs and things, and and sometimes you might say, Oh, edit that take that out, you know, these things happen, and that's fine. So, but you know, I have to do all that. And I'm certainly not a sound engineer or anything like that, but I try and I do my best. And so I got to the point, and this is why the podcast kind of had to slow down, had to take a pause, because kind of got to the point where I knew that if the podcast was going to continue and and to grow, it needed better foundations. So that brings me to something I'm I'm quietly excited about. Um I'm getting new equipment and well I have it and I've got to figure out how to use it. And sort of that's what's been going on, it's sort of figuring out what I needed and all that sort of thing. It'll make the interviews smoother and it'll sound a bit better. And it just matters that I get it right, and that's what I've been trying to fix. Because those stories, the conversations, are what this podcast is built on, and that's the purpose sharing those stories. So I want to get it right. And this podcast, MSMS, began with multiple sclerosis, of course. But neurological conditions don't exist in isolation. There are so many different conditions, but we share a lot of what goes along with neurological disease. There's you know the uncertainty and going through the diagnosis and there's invisible symptoms, the fatigue and resilience, and there's some grief, but we find strength as well, unexpected strength sometimes. So whether that's MS or Parkinson's or even motor neurone disease, there are some threads that a lot of threads that connect us. And I'm beginning to explore the idea of widening the circle, not to it lessen multiple sclerosis and the the core of this what we're doing here, but to honour the fact that we are in many ways connected and walking alongside each other. Neurology is like it's huge, but it's small as well. And the the human experience within it needs to be shared, I think, as much as it can. Because it's a misunderstood thing when you have a neurological disease. It's misunderstood. So you know, I I just think we can share. And that leads me to something important. Because this year, MSMS, and it's next month actually, MSMS, as I'm talking, because it's February right now and in March, MSMS will be taking part in podcast thon Podcast Thon, a global initiative where podcasters dedicate an episode to support a chosen charity. And I've chosen to support motor neurone disease. Now not everyone, of course, not you out there listening, you probably don't know why that matters to me personally, but it does. I lost my younger brother to motor neurone disease, so I do have an understanding of what that means as well. But while this podcast carries MS as its name, as its its heart, you know, the deeper purpose has always been about people and about that focus on neurological illness with honesty and compassion and to share, to raise awareness. So in March, there will be a special episode that I'm focusing toward raising awareness and support for motor neurone disease. Because awareness matters, stories matter, and connection matters. So I'll circle back around now., this is kind of a recalibration. That's what's been happening, and what is happening. There may be some new conversations, a slightly wider horizon, but the same the same core. So if you're listening today, I thank you for being patient. And if you've ever shared your story with me, thank you. Thank you so much. People out there really appreciate that sharing. So the stories are still here, of course, and very soon there's going to be more different, similar conversations. Oh, actually, before I finish, I do just want to say if this podcast has meant something to you, if a story has helped you feel less alone or better understood, or just a little supported even, there are ways that you can help continue this podcast. If you just share an episode with a friend, somebody you know who might find some value in it as well. That makes a huge difference, that sharing. So until next time, this is MSMS, the many stories of multiple sclerosis. And we're kind of getting started again. Thank you so much for listening. I hope you'll come back to have a listen to the next episode, which will be around motor neurone disease. I have a very special guest lined up to to speak with. So that's it for now though, and and we will continue to connect, one story at a time. Thank you so much. Bye for now.