Episode 13

full
Published on:

29th Oct 2025

CNN's John King Living with MS, The Magic Wall & Media's Biggest Mistake

CNN’s John King, famous for election night coverage at the Magic Wall, opens up about living with multiple sclerosis, how MS shapes his daily life, and why hope and healing keep him going.

CNN’s John King is known worldwide for guiding viewers through presidential elections on CNN with the Magic Wall. But behind the political maps and election coverage is a personal battle with multiple sclerosis (MS).

In this powerful Call Me Friend episode, host Daryn Kagan reconnects with her longtime CNN colleague to explore John’s journey of resilience. He reveals how MS impacts his health and career, how he balances hope with hard days, and why empathy and healing matter more than ever.

This is more than politics. It’s about family, faith in conversation, and finding optimism in the face of challenge.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

✅How John King discovered his multiple sclerosis diagnosis and what it means day-to-day

✅What it takes to stay steady while covering CNN’s election nights with the Magic Wall

✅Why empathy, patience, and resilience became his greatest lessons from living with MS

✅How John still finds hope and purpose in journalism, family, and everyday conversations

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Key Timestamps

  • (00:00) John King On Hope, Healing, And What Keeps Him Going Through MS
  • (0:53) Intro to Call Me Friend and setup of John King’s story
  • (2:36) John is living with multiple sclerosis, why this conversation matters
  • (3:00) Sponsor message  Ms Lou’s Cabin
  • (4:08) John joins, quick catch up and location chat
  • (10:02) Optimism that the next generation will fix our mistakes
  • (17:51) The “All Over the Map” project, listening to voters across America
  • (20:28) Polarization, why conversation works better than combat
  • (29:03) MS diagnosis story, symptoms building to the 2008 Republican Convention
  • (33:01) MS symptoms, fatigue, meds, costs, and how he adapts his day
  • (43:46) Magic Wall origin story, who used it first, how John took it on
  • (44:09) Behind the scenes on election coverage and the tech that powers it

Key Takeaways

🔹 John King’s candid story of resilience while living with multiple sclerosis

🔹 The behind-the-scenes reality of CNN election night coverage

🔹 Why optimism and healing fuel his work in journalism and life as a father

🔹 A reminder that empathy and patience can shift how we see each other

Guest Bio

John King is CNN’s chief national correspondent and anchor, known for his groundbreaking use of the Magic Wall during U.S. election coverage. With nearly 30 years at CNN, he has reported on politics, presidents, and pivotal national moments. Today, he is also openly sharing his experience living with multiple sclerosis, offering a deeply human perspective on resilience, hope, and healing.

Resources & Links

John King, CNN, election night, Magic Wall, multiple sclerosis, MS, MS awareness, living with MS, MS fatigue, chronic illness, health journey, resilience, hope and healing, empathy, journalism, political journalism, election coverage, US politics, polarization, democracy, media trust, voter conversations, All Over the Map, Daryn Kagan, Call Me Friend podcast, behind the scenes, newsroom, fatherhood, work life balance, routines, exercise and MS, heat sensitivity MS, disability advocacy, optimism, storytelling, map analysis, cable news, news anchor


Transcript

CMF_EP13_John_King

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About the Podcast

Call Me Friend
Who do you call when life gets real? When the good news hits, the heartbreak lands, or you're just having one of those days—you call a friend. That’s the heartbeat of Call Me Friend—a feel good biweekly podcast that drops you into the kind of conversations that remind us who we are, where we belong, and why friendship matters.

Hosted by former network news anchor, wife, mom, and Airbnb host Daryn Kagan, Call Me Friend is your weekly reminder of the joy, laughter, and healing that come with connection. Each week, Daryn picks up the phone from Ms. Lou’s Cabin—a 50-year-old log home she and her husband lovingly restored and turned into an Airbnb—to chat with someone in her world, whether it’s a celebrity, her childhood bestie, or someone she just met along the way or maybe even YOU. No matter who she’s calling, the focus is always the same: celebrating the power of friendship and connection.

Every episode kicks off with a ring-ring and drops you into a real-life conversations between friends. These aren’t interviews with hot takes or polished soundbites—just raw, funny, heartfelt, deeply human chats between people who genuinely know and care about each other. From lifelong friendships to surprise connections, everyday legends to familiar names, Call Me Friend is a front-row seat to how beautiful, messy, and meaningful friendships can be.

This show is for anyone craving more depth, more heart, and more of the good stuff that makes life not just bearable—but beautiful. It’s a cozy corner of the podcast world where emotional wellness, storytelling, and humor live in harmony. Whether you’re looking for comfort, relatable stories, or a pick-me-up on a hard day, this podcast is for you, yes YOU. Expect wild stories, sweet memories, laugh-out-loud moments, and those quiet “Yeah… me too” pauses that make you feel truly seen.

Fun segments like “You Gotta Meet My Friend” spotlight special guests introducing someone they love, while “Call Me, Friend” invites listeners to write in with questions and stories. And the “Friend Questionnaire” keeps things surprising, uncovering the quirks and connections that make every friendship unique.

What makes Call Me Friend stand out? This show isn’t about networking or hustle. It’s not self-help. It’s heart-help. Because friendship isn’t just background noise—it’s the main character. If you’ve ever found joy, comfort, or healing through a friend—or just needed someone to say, “I get it”—this is your space.

Call Me Friend is more than a podcast. It’s a weekly call you can count on. A soft place to land. A reminder that even when life feels messy, everything gets better when you talk to a friend. If you love heartfelt conversations, personal stories, and a little laughter with your life lessons, this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

So whether you're commuting, folding laundry, walking the dog, or just trying to quiet your mind—remember this: you’re not alone. Someone out there gets it. Someone out there would totally take your call.

Go ahead, pick up the phone.
Let’s laugh. Let’s cry. Let’s Call a Friend.

About the Host:

Daryn Kagan is a former CNN anchor turned full-time storyteller. After leaving the fast-paced world of network news, she built a life rooted in purpose, connection, and authenticity. Now living on the quiet Georgia coast, Daryn records Call Me Friend from Ms. Lou’s Cabin, a restored 50-year-old log home turned Airbnb. From there she runs the nationwide Just One More Foundation giving grants for second chances. A wife, mom, dog mama, and connection junkie, Daryn’s superpower is bringing people together—and her gift for real conversation is what makes this podcast feel like catching up with your favorite friend.

Just One More Foundation : https://www.justonemorefoundation.org/
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Facebook: Daryn Kagan
Website: https://darynkagan.com/
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daryn-kagan-14a6893/

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Daryn Kagan