7 Questions with A Couple featuring Jenn Powell

MS advocate, author, Multiple Sclerosis Podcast host

Welcome to “7 Questions with A Couple,” a series that includes quick conversations with a variety of experts and influencers from throughout the Multiple Sclerosis community. We are humbled to share with you our conversation with Jenn Powell. She has captivated and inspired us with her words, patient perspectives and actions as a leading voice throughout the MS community. Jenn is the BioNews brand marketing manager and is driven to elevate the needs of those in the rare disease communities. She lives in Southern California where she enjoys volunteering for animal rescue and spending time with her husband and golden retrievers.

1. You are the Brand and Marketing Manager for BioNews, which includes the subsidiary Multiple Sclerosis News Today. What are the primary objectives of your job, and how Does your life with MS enhance the work you do there?

I have never been more proud to represent a brand as I have the BioNews brand. BioNews exists to improve the quality of life for those with rare and chronic diseases. Multiple Sclerosis News Today is part of the BioNews family of over 50 rare and chronic disease websites.

I share our mission and who we are, develop strategic partnerships and collaborations, and ensure our brand messaging engages and connects with the patient population and potential clients. Work and personal life overlap as I advocate and elevate awareness, build partnerships, and develop ways to find balance. CEO Chris Comish leads by example, with genuine regard for those diagnosed or caring for someone with rare and chronic diseases.

2. What motivated you to pursue this company and this position for your career?

I was recruited as a columnist in 2017, where I began Silver Linings. It was more than a column, it became a community. I loved writing and still do write feature content for MS News. I began to work in different divisions of the company. I became passionate about our mission. We have the ability to meet a specific need. I worked diligently and in many departments, becoming intimately acquainted with our processes. Passion and purpose collided. I became a Brand and Marketing manager in November of 2022.

3. You have written some pretty powerful essays in your regular column, Silver Linings. Where do you find inspiration for your column ideas, and what do you hope people take away from your writing?

Silver Linings will always remain a special part of me. If you want to know me, read my column! I have to find the Silver Lining to thrive. It is not always what we want but what we need. It is beauty in a difficult situation. It is grace through growth. Light exists when we cannot illuminate or find our own.

Inspiration comes from everyday life with MS. Columns come from emotional fallout and glorious triumph, from marital hardship and mind-blowing epiphanies, from the falls and the failures – everything is relevant to a feeling or event worth sharing.

4. You serve as host of the Multiple Sclerosis Podcast. How do you decide who to feature in your episodes, And, like your column, what do you hope listeners take away from your conversations?

I love being able to sit with others and listen to their perspectives. I want this podcast to feature a wide array of those in the MS space. I wanted this to be a window into what many would never be able to witness, from scientific breakthroughs and knowledge to mental and physical health resources to personal and lived experiences with different types of MS. Unlike sharing my own experiences, the Multiple Sclerosis Podcast is a space to highlight others in the world of MS.

I select people based on what is relevant to our disease and whose message could benefit our listeners.

5. You’ve featured a lot of great and influential guests on your podcast, including actress, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Dr. Aaron Boster, Dr. Terri Wahls and Tim Coetzee. Do you get nervous before your interviews? Who is on your shortlist of people you really want to have a conversation with for your podcast?

I do get nervous! I have dysarthria so my speech is sometimes off and when I am anxious, my scanning is worse. If I forget my train of thought, I roll forward and don’t retake. I hope it helps others know they are not alone.

My shortlist is a secret because my list is organic. I select people based on my abundance of daily reading and on developments in the world of MS. I enjoy hosting people with MS as they share so much of themselves in an effort to help others. I follow authors of white papers and periodicals and enjoy elevating their knowledge as most listeners would never have access to their knowledge.

Of course, those with notoriety are interesting and exciting, but I believe all stories are equally meaningful. I see each person as an opportunity to learn.

6. There are many resources available for people within the MS community to get their information and inspiration to better live with their chronic illness. What can people expect from BioNews and Multiple Sclerosis News Today that set them apart from other platforms?

MS News differentiates itself from other MS-related sites by the quality of our content. MS News Today’s daily MS-specific news articles are written and edited by award-winning editorial staff. MS News Today’s science articles are written by scientists and Ph.D.-level science writers. MS News Today content is vetted, trustworthy, and timely. MS News Today is a leading resource that covers MS-specific topics relevant to the individual with the disease. A team of expert patient and caregiver columnists brings the much-needed patient voice front and center. MS News Today’s forums and the MS Podcast add to a comprehensive platform.

7. In the “About the Author” section at the end of your Silver Linings column, it states that, “… Jennifer hopes to elevate the patient voice to better the lives of those living with the disease.” What writers and resources do you tap into to elevate your voice, and better your life in living with MS?

I read MS News Today columnists for patient perspectives in addition to our science articles to learn more about the latest treatments and how they work. I listen to several podcasts, including yours (A Couple Takes on MS) as you keep it real, and Jon Strum (RealTalk MS) because he hosts experts in the field of MS. I follow my doctor, Brandon Beaber and his YouTube channel as he breaks down the jargon in a way I can grasp. I research and read articles and white papers by neurologists and investigators to better understand the mechanisms of MS. I attend conferences and lectures where I gain exposure to many experts in the field of MS. I learn a great deal from guests on my podcasts as they elevate varying aspects of this disease.