S3_E7: The Compassion You Don’t Expect – with Dr. Deanna Greer
Most people wouldn’t expect a veterinarian to be deeply involved in the MS community—but that’s exactly what makes Dr. Deanna “Dee” Greer’s story worth hearing. Dr. Dee, owner and Medical Director of Birch Island Veterinary Center in Jacksonville, Florida, has spent her career listening to those who can’t speak—animals in pain, suffering in silence. But it’s her personal connection through her husband’s former spouse, who lives with MS, that led her to become an annual donor to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her sponsorship of this episode isn’t advertising. It’s personal. Her contributions go directly to the MS Society—not this podcast—and her story is a reminder that compassion doesn’t have to come from shared diagnosis. Sometimes, it’s a choice. In this episode, we also explore the science of empathy through the lens of veterinary medicine, including Dr. Dee’s reflections on the book Compassionomics, which examines how just 15 seconds of human connection can change clinical outcomes. To learn more—or to match Dr. Dee’s generosity with a donation of your own—visit www.bike-ms.com and click the “Donate” button. 100% of all funds go directly to the National MS Society.
--------
28:27
S3_E6: Cori - Sometimes, MS Is a Lesson for the Ones Who Watch
What if suffering isn’t a punishment… but a lesson for those who see it? In this powerful episode of The Other Side of MS, Cori — a mother, advocate, and MS warrior — opens up about the grief, faith, anger, and invisible struggles that come with living two decades with multiple sclerosis. She shares how her perspective has evolved over the years, the lessons her children are learning by watching her fight, and the moments she’s felt abandoned — by her body, by faith, and by those who just “don’t get it.” Cori doesn’t sugarcoat the truth. She talks about the exhaustion of constantly having to explain herself, the vulnerability of visible disability, and the heartbreak of being seen only as a diagnosis. “Sometimes suffering isn’t a punishment for the person who’s suffering. Sometimes it’s a lesson for those who see it.” If you’ve ever felt unseen in your MS journey — or want to understand what it really feels like — this is the conversation we need to have. 💬 Support Cori’s Walk MS Fundraising in Fort Wayne, Indiana: Click here to donate or learn more
--------
37:04
S3 _ E5: Zohra - The MS Day No One Sees
What if the strongest thing about you… is the part no one sees? In this episode, we sit down with Zohra — a Korean and Algerian, first-generation American woman living with MS — to talk about the truth that doesn’t fit in a brochure. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s what it feels like to be praised for your strength while silently drowning in exhaustion. It’s the fear that if you open up, they’ll just call it complaining. It’s what happens when your body starts forcing you to step down from leadership—and you have no say in it. Zohra has spent nearly two decades in education. She understands what empathy is supposed to look like—and what it feels like when it’s withheld. From the night she met the MS community for the first time in a piano bar… to the moments she keeps spare clothes at work in case her body won’t cooperate… Zohra doesn’t hold back. This is the side of MS we don’t talk about enough. The invisible weight. The slow losses. The kids who notice more than adults. The humor that saves us. If you’ve ever had to smile through something unspeakable—this episode will feel like a hand on your shoulder. Moved by Zohra’s story? 💛 Donate to the National MS Society 📢 Share this Episode
--------
35:26
S3_E4: Pam Grimes: Strength, Stencils, and Showing Up Anyway
Diagnosed with MS on her 10th wedding anniversary, Pam Grimes has spent the last three decades not just living with the disease—but showing up anyway. From raising three young kids while adapting to life in a wheelchair, to turning her entire neighborhood into a grassroots fundraising walk, Pam’s story is one of quiet resilience, fierce love, and unwavering purpose. She doesn’t call herself a hero. But after listening to this conversation, you just might. Pam also creates hand-embossed greeting cards—thoughtfully designed, dry embossed by hand, and bundled to raise funds for the National MS Society. 📬 Text Pam at 812-236-6233 to order 5 cards for a $25 donation. Every dollar supports MS research and services through the National MS Society. She’s also hosting her own version of Walk MS on April 12th in her Indiana neighborhood—an inspiring local effort that brings friends, family, and neighbors together for a cause that’s deeply personal. Want to support Pam’s MS fundraising? Text her directly to learn how you can donate or participate in this powerful community event.
--------
28:16
S3_E3: Becca - Becca’s Unfiltered Journey with MS
Becca’s Unfiltered Journey with MS What happens when your body betrays you—but you still show up like nothing’s wrong? In this unforgettable episode of The Other Side of MS, host Casey Murphy sits down with Becca, a Nashville nonprofit leader, yoga-lover, and corporate change maker who’s lived the invisible chaos of MS for the past two years. But this isn’t your average “inspiring story.” Becca talks about the diagnosis she never saw coming, the moments that broke her, and the parts of MS no one wants to say out loud—including how it’s reshaped her identity, her sex life, and her relationship with herself. She shares what it’s like to run meetings while quietly negotiating with her bladder, why “you’re so strong” can feel like a slap, and what she would say if MS were a person sitting in front of her. If you’ve ever wondered what resilience really looks like—or felt alone in your struggle—this episode will stay with you long after it ends. 🎙 Tap in. Listen close. You won’t forget Becca’s story. 🎁 Support Becca’s Bike MS fundraiser: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.participant&participantID=620049
The Other Side of MS isn’t here to inspire you—it’s here to tell the truth.
This podcast gives voice to the raw, unfiltered stories of people living with multiple sclerosis—the ones you rarely hear.
Hosted by longtime MS advocate Casey Murphy, each episode pulls back the curtain on the emotional, invisible, and often uncomfortable realities of MS. From navigating public spaces with incontinence, to losing careers, marriages, or mobility, these aren’t just stories of strength—they’re stories of being human.
We don’t chase silver linings. We hold space for pain, for humor, for grief, for resilience—and for the voices that deserve to be heard without being sanitized or simplified.
If you’re ready for a podcast that doesn’t sugarcoat the experience of living with MS, this is it.
This is The Other Side of MS.
Ireland