Listen "Relationships and MS with Nikoma and Simone Bell | S7E09"
Episode Synopsis
Love, resilience and real talk – that’s what today’s episode of Living Well with MS is all about. We're thrilled to welcome husband-and-wife team Nikoma and Simone Bell, authors of Marriage & MS: Embracing Life and Love Beyond the Diagnosis.
Together, they open up about navigating life, love and MS – sharing practical advice on relationships, caregiving, intimacy, and creating space for honest conversations, especially in underrepresented communities. Whether you're living with MS, supporting a partner, or simply curious about how real connection thrives through life's challenges, you won’t want to miss this heartfelt and inspiring discussion.
Topics and Timestamps:
01:41 Meet Nikoma and Simone.
03:09 Top tips for keeping a marriage strong while living with MS.
05:52 Support for Black men with MS.
08:37 Common struggles among care partners and how to handle them.
10:27 How to talk to young children about MS.
12:15 Keeping intimacy alive in relationships with MS.
13:12 Managing feelings of guilt and being a burden.
14:37 Staying together despite MS – defying the odds.
17:30 Talking about what can’t be seen – invisible symptoms.
More info and links:
Learn more about Nikoma and Simone and their work
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation here.
Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.
Together, they open up about navigating life, love and MS – sharing practical advice on relationships, caregiving, intimacy, and creating space for honest conversations, especially in underrepresented communities. Whether you're living with MS, supporting a partner, or simply curious about how real connection thrives through life's challenges, you won’t want to miss this heartfelt and inspiring discussion.
Topics and Timestamps:
01:41 Meet Nikoma and Simone.
03:09 Top tips for keeping a marriage strong while living with MS.
05:52 Support for Black men with MS.
08:37 Common struggles among care partners and how to handle them.
10:27 How to talk to young children about MS.
12:15 Keeping intimacy alive in relationships with MS.
13:12 Managing feelings of guilt and being a burden.
14:37 Staying together despite MS – defying the odds.
17:30 Talking about what can’t be seen – invisible symptoms.
More info and links:
Learn more about Nikoma and Simone and their work
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
YouTube
Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.
Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation here.
Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].
If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.
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