Best Laura Kolaczkowski Podcasts (2024)

1
Series Wrap-Up 18:20

1+ y ago18:20

18:20

For the final episode of the MS Diagnosis Journey podcast, regular host Laura Kolaczkowski and editor Steve Woodward reflect on the stories that they've heard throughout the series. In this chat, Laura and Steve look back on what they found most interesting in previous interviews. Mostly what they take away from the series is the generosity with wh…

1
Laura Kolaczkowski: "Don't Make It A Solo Act" 16:24

1+ y ago16:24

16:24

In a change to our regular broadcasting, this time around it's regular host Laura Kolaczkowski's turn to share her journey to a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. Despite having a family member with MS, Laura never thought that it was in her future, pushing past a number of symptoms that seem obvious in retrospect. In this interview, Laura relates her i…

1
Damian Washington and Trusting Your Gut 16:56

2y ago16:56

16:56

Damian Washington is a self-proclaimed high-energy dude. So it's easy to see why, when his enthusiasm started to dip on set, he and his wife knew something was wrong. It was so out of character that Damian refers to it as losing his essence of self. As a black man, Damian speaks about the lack of representation he noticed at the time of diagnosis, …

1
Dr. Susan Payrovi and the Lessons that MS Can Teach Us 12:27

2y ago12:27

12:27

As a physician and a patient living with Multiple Sclerosis, Dr. Susan Payrovi has a unique perspective on managing the condition. But even she dismissed her own initial symptoms, putting them down to exhaustion and tendonitis. In this conversation, Dr. Payrovi recounts seeing four separate neurologists before a friend (who was a plastic surgeon) p…

1
Cassie Martin on Trying to Find The Right Words 12:19

2y ago12:19

12:19

When Cassie Martin noticed sensations of tingling and numbness, she initially put it down to being in Wisconsin in the fall. But a feeling like a buzzer, running from her head to her feet, eventually led Cassie to Doctor Google who told her all about Lhermitte’s Sign, a possible symptom of Multiple Sclerosis. In this interview, Cassie says that her…

1
Linda Kanner: "This Is A Sneaky Disease" 12:20

2y ago12:20

12:20

Linda Kanner was diagnosed with MS in 2007. She had an awareness of the disease through an Uncle, but her official diagnosis still took twenty years after first presenting symptoms to a medical professional. Shortly after this, Linda became a member of the board of The Accelerated Cure Project for MS. She also now serves on the iConquerMS Governing…

1
Kathy Reagan Young: "Anything You Notice About Your Body, Don't Ignore It" 10:33

2y ago10:33

10:33

When she noticed the appearance of strange symptoms, Kathy Reagan Young put them down to being an exhausted stay-at-home mom. It was only down to the input of friends and business associates that she was able to be fast-tracked to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Kathy recognizes the privilege and luck that played a part in her high-speed diagnos…

1
Renita Larsen: "It Continues To Be A Whirlwind" 18:44

2y ago18:44

18:44

Renita Larsen was an athlete and a dancer when her mysterious symptoms began. She shares her journey over several years and even surgery before connecting with a neurologist who put her history together. Renita credits the support of her family for getting her through years of doctors who told her she was too young and active to have any issues. In…

1
Teresa Wright-Johnson: "My Body Has Never Failed Me" 20:28

2y ago20:28

20:28

Hope could have been Teresa Wright-Johnson’s middle name because she exudes hope in all she does. Treatment for a workplace injury was the trigger for her MS diagnosis, which added an additional dimension to her already impressive health advocacy work. She shares the story of learning she had multiple sclerosis on top of living with congenital hear…

1
Dawn Morgan: "You Mean I'm Gonna Look Like Janet Reno?!" 22:13

2y ago22:13

22:13

Dawn Morgan was young and living her best single-woman life when abnormal symptoms began to disrupt her life. The first doctor she saw put what she was experiencing down to B12 deficiency and her vegetarian diet. However, what she now knows is MS fatigue wouldn't let her be. As a young woman, Dawn admits that she found it hard to make herself heard…

1
Robbie Gillett: A Warrior Beneath The Tracksuit 14:40

2y ago14:40

14:40

Robbie Gillett was at work when he became unable to move when he was installing a kitchen unit. He was convinced that he was dying or having a stroke but the doctors who saw him initially thought he had Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS). However, it soon became clear that his MS diagnosis journey had begun. As a way to process his new reality, Rob…

1
Roger Cook: "Don't Let MS Rule Your Life" 12:35

2y ago12:35

12:35

Roger Cook is from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and is active in the Newcastle chapter of the MS Society and the MS Research and Relief Fund (UK). He was officially diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2001 but had symptoms much earlier in his life. As you'll hear in this interview, these initial symptoms were dismissed because doctors assumed tha…

1
Veronica Daniels-Lewis and Listening To Your Inner Voice 17:08

2y ago17:08

17:08

Veronica Daniels-Lewis is a Multiple Sclerosis myth-buster! Firstly, she is a woman of color - and as we've learned before, some medical professionals still believe that MS is a white woman's disease. Secondly, her three pregnancies were all marked by symptoms that she now recognizes as being early presentations of MS, busting the myth that all wom…

1
Joan Jordan: "A Slow Volcanic Eruption" 14:08

2y ago14:08

14:08

Like many of our guests, Joan Jordan's MS diagnosis took many years from her first reported symptoms. However, Joan's situation was complicated by the fact that she was working as a software engineer in various locations around the world - and was having to explain what was happening to her in a language other than her own. In this interview, Joan …

1
Kyle Warendorf: Joining the Dots 18:01

2y ago18:01

18:01

Though he was aware of MS while growing up, it took a number of neurologists before Kyle Warendorf was able to connect the dots of his medical history. He was finally diagnosed with MS in 2011, but by trawling through his medical archeology he was able to recognize early indications going back 30 years. In this interview, Kyle talks about his sympt…

1
Susan Silver: "You Feel Like You're Going Nuts!" 13:40

2y ago13:40

13:40

In a first for this podcast, Susan Silver was diagnosed with MS not once but twice. Initially, Susan was told that the symptoms she was reporting - including fatigue, vertigo, and problems with her vision - were caused by her high-pressure job and irregular hours. Eventually, she was told she had MS, given a collection of leaflets, and told to go h…

1
Toccara Carter: "Don't Ever Feel Like You're Alone" 10:53

2y ago10:53

10:53

Toccara was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008 as she was wrapping up her final semester of graduate school. At that time, she didn't see anyone that looked like her in the materials that were available to help make sense of her diagnosis. Toccara joined the iConquerMS RIDE Council (Research, Incluson, Diversity, Equity because she wants to …

1
DeLisa French: "Your Medical Team Works For You!" 14:59

2y ago14:59

14:59

It took DeLisa French ten years from the onset of her symptoms before she got a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. She now sees MS as a blessing and a curse, and although it might slow her down, she won't let it stop her. DeLisa is another guest to advise people to advocate for themselves on their own diagnosis journeys. As she says, whether you're c…

1
The Power of Knowing What You Have 14:22

2y ago14:22

14:22

Even though Helen has a background in Medical Research, her diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis in the late 1990s still came out of the blue. Not least because - as you'll hear - her symptoms matched exactly with B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia. Helen talks about the words of wisdom that her brother shared, the lack of information that was out t…

1
Patty Solis: Seeing The Positives In The Cards You've Been Dealt 22:23

2y ago22:23

22:23

If you've ever felt bad about the fact that you were unaware of Multiple Sclerosis before beginning your own journey to a diagnosis, take comfort. Patty Solis was completely unaware of MS, despite having worked in a variety of healthcare roles for a number of years. In this interview, she talks about the fact that it was her invisible symptoms that…

1
Dan and Jennifer Digmann: Powerhouses in living with MS 18:39

2+ y ago18:39

18:39

Jennifer and Dan Digmann have been married since 2005 and have lived with Multiple Sclerosis throughout their relationship - Jennifer was diagnosed in 1997, Dan in the year 2000. They met at a National Multiple Sclerosis Society event in 2002, and since then have dedicated their lives to MS activism and helping others to live their best life. In th…

1
Dimika Cavalier: "You Have A Right To Be Analytical When It Comes To Your Health" 11:52

2+ y ago11:52

11:52

If you've been diagnosed with MS or any other chronic illness, you will have likely gone through a period when the medical experts you're speaking to don't believe you or even listen to you. However, people of color face that on a whole other level, because some people still believe that MS is a white person's disease. Dimika Cavalier experienced M…

1
Shereese Hickson: "It's Something That I Can Live With" 14:10

2+ y ago14:10

14:10

A recurring theme of these podcasts is the seemingly random misdiagnoses that come before someone finally says the words "Multiple Sclerosis". Shereese Hickson and her doctors brushed aside her first symptoms for years before she was finally diagnosed in 2012. In this interview, Shereese relates how doctors initially dismissed her because of her we…

1
Scott James: "If I'm Broke I Need To Find Out Everything About It" 21:30

2+ y ago21:30

21:30

Compared to most people, Scott James' diagnosis story is incredibly rapid. Just over a week after being misdiagnosed with a pinched nerve, he was back at the ER with worsening symptoms. The on-call neurologist he saw listened to his story, jabbed him with a safety pin (!), and said that he probably had Multiple Sclerosis. This was later confirmed b…

1
Nohora Gutierrez: "I want to see my lesions!" 19:17

2+ y ago19:17

19:17

When she was first diagnosed, Nohora Gutierrez was told by her (former) neurologist to stay away from MS Support Groups. She was even told which drug she was going to take. As a trainer, Nohorra is naturally drawn to learning as much as possible and sharing her knowledge with people. Looking back now, she sees that she was dismissed and wishes that…

1
Jackie Zimmerman: Get To Know Your MS 15:06

2+ y ago15:06

15:06

Self-proclaimed "professional sick person" Jackie Zimmerman was confused when her doctor sent her for a series of neurological tests after she complained of numbness. And even then it was an off-hand comment from somebody unconnected that first put the words Multiple Sclerosis into her head. After receiving her official diagnosis at the age of 21 i…

1
Dr. Rheanna Robinson: The Inadvertent Gifts of MS 14:30

2+ y ago14:30

14:30

At age 19, Rheanna Robinson had taken a year out of university and planned a solo trip around Europe. But just before she was due to go, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Being raised in British Columbia, Rheanna was very aware of MS and what it was - Canada continues to have one of the highest rates of incidence for MS. However, due to he…

1
Teresa Rousseau: Making Room to Dream More Dreams 12:11

2+ y ago12:11

12:11

Teresa Rousseau's MS diagnosis came about after years of unsettling but fairly undramatic symptoms - mostly tingling and numbness. Following an inconclusive MRI, she went on an active adventure holiday, finally getting the call from her neurologist two days after her return. She had no knowledge of MS and was unprepared for the onset of disability …

1
Diane Bly: "You Have Problems With Your Wi-Fi" 10:27

2+ y ago10:27

10:27

Diane Bly's diagnosis with MS came relatively quickly - from presenting symptoms in September 2016 to receiving confirmation three months later. However, her first indications could be traced back to the 1990s. In this interview, Diane relates some truly bizarre interactions with medical professionals ("We can't find anything wrong with you but we …

1
Lucy Kaplan: All of a Sudden, Things Make Sense 11:03

2+ y ago11:03

11:03

Looking back now, Lucy Kaplan recognizes that the word-jumbling which occurred on the first day of her final Undergrad semester was a symptom of Multiple Sclerosis. But despite the six months of tests she had following this incident, her MS diagnosis took 22 years. Read that again! Lucy then spent 8 months hiding in her house and didn't tell anyone…

1
Dr. Aaron Boster and the Neurologist's View of MS Diagnosis 18:24

2+ y ago18:24

18:24

The point of this podcast is to capture the diagnosis stories of patients. So far, a lot of them have talked about being dismissed or misdiagnosed before eventually coming to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. In a special bonus episode, Laura talks to her own neurologist, and the doctor who diagnosed her MS, Dr. Aaron Boster. Dr, Boster also happe…

1
Devin Garlit: Not All Doctors Are Created Equally 12:55

2+ y ago12:55

12:55

One day when Devin Garlit was at college, he woke up, got out of bed, and immediately fell over. After a few more days where this continued to happen, he saw the first in a series of doctors - one of whom had to refer to his old college textbooks for some guidance on what was going on! Although Devin's family had experience with MS and had expected…

1
Jenny Angus: Be Prepared and Educate Yourself 17:18

2+ y ago17:18

17:18

As an athletic teenager, Jenny Angus had volunteered at an event for MS and other neurological conditions. So when her first recognizable MS symptoms were dismissed in 2004, she was delighted. It would take her almost ten years before she received an official diagnosis - during which time her disease had been left to run unchecked. As you'll hear, …

1
Ed Tobias: Learning to Dance in the Rain 13:24

2+ y ago13:24

13:24

Ed Tobias is a blogger and writer who formerly worked as an Associated Press reporter and broadcaster. He says that the only person who suspected MS when he was diagnosed was his wife, who was working as a Physiotherapist at the time. In this interview, Ed talks about his initial symptoms and the tests that were available to neurologists in 1980 - …

1
Shari Short's Medical Mystery Tour 11:35

2+ y ago11:35

11:35

Shari Short is a comedian and writer. Since her MS diagnosis in 2008, Shari has used humor to deal with MS, communicate about MS and cope with MS. In this interview, Shari talks about what was EVENTUALLY an unusually rapid diagnosis and the need for patients to seek out medical professionals who match their temperaments and whom they can trust. Rem…

1
Sue Casey - Grab The Happy 15:39

2+ y ago15:39

15:39

Sue Casey is married with grown-up children and grandchildren and worked as a nursery nurse for many years. Not bad when you consider that she was diagnosed with MS in 1974, which means that, at the time of this recording, she has been living with it for nearly 50 years! At the time of Sue's diagnosis, there weren't any Disease Modifying Therapies …

1
Heather - Be Your Own Champion 10:58

2+ y ago10:58

10:58

Heather is an actor, teacher, blogger, and Support Volunteer for the UK MS Society. She lives in England and was diagnosed with MS in 2014. As she says in this interview, Heather had no prior knowledge of MS at the time she began having symptoms. Eventually, she provided her own diagnosis (with help from Dr. Google) which was subsequently backed up…

1
Mary Pettigrew - But You Look Fine! 14:33

2+ y ago14:33

14:33

Mary Pettigrew is a writer from Dallas, Texas. She is also a blogger who specializes in poetry, essay, and narrative interviews. Following her MS diagnosis in 2001, she wanted to create a space where fellow MSers could meet up and share stories. In 2014 she launched MS Pals on Twitter, which eventually turned into a website of the same name. In thi…

1
Anita Williams - Do Your Own Research, Responsibly 17:50

2+ y ago17:50

17:50

Anita Williams’ advocacy work comes through her two roles at iConquerMS, a participant-driven research organization that aims to better understand, treat, and ultimately cure MS. She is the Co-Chair of the Engagement Committee, as well as being Co-Chair of the Committee for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. Anita also writes regular articles for …

1
Lisa Emrich - Don't be Dismissed, Get a Second Opinion! 13:29

2+ y ago13:29

13:29

Lisa Emrich is a patient advocate who has been helping patients educate and empower themselves since 2008. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, Lisa learned firsthand the challenges of navigating the healthcare and insurance systems as a self-employed freelance musician in Washington, DC, performing on horn and piano. In this inte…

1
Steve Woodward - The Relief of Getting a Positive Diagnosis 16:18

2+ y ago16:18

16:18

Steve Woodward is a podcast editor from England, UK. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005. In this episode, Steve talks about the treatment he receives under the UK’s National Health Service, and why, despite the progressive nature of the disease, he thinks his MS diagnosis has made him a better person. Read Steve’s blog Interview by La…

1
Welcome to the MS Diagnosis Journey podcast 1:18

2+ y ago1:18

1:18

In the chronic disease arena, most everyone is more than willing to share their story for their own benefit and that of others. At the core of each story is the diagnosis. Everyone has a story to tell, and every storyteller needs an audience. We invite you to join us for the Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis Journey podcast, and listen to these unique s…

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