Parkinson's: An Athlete's Journey

About Parkinson's: An Athlete's Journey

Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey is for athletes navigating Parkinson’s, the coaches and clinicians who train them, and anyone who wants real-world strategies for performance and longevity. Hosted by Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt, the show focuses on tactical takeaways: how to train, recover, manage symptoms, and stay consistent when the rules keep changing. Expect honest conversations, tested routines, and guest experts who go deeper on what works.

Publisher

Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt

Category

health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

20 Jan 2026

Latest episode

30 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

33 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Chasing the CrossFit Games With Parkinson’s | Jodie Tickle

   Jodie was already a CrossFit athlete when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2025. She had boxed for years, competed in bodybuilding, and had no intention of giving up competition. After her diagnosis, she set her sights on competing in adaptive CrossFit. In her first season, Jodie finished 11th in the world in her division in the Adaptive CrossFit Open and qualified for the semifinals. She ultimately chose not to pursue the Games that year, but she wants to make another run at it next season. Jodie and Eric talk about what training toward a goal like that looks like with Parkinson’s. They also get into adaptive competition, returning to golf, her 22 years in nursing, and where she wants to go from here. Top Takeaways ➡️ Training has to change with the day. Jodie found that even established CrossFit programs could be too much volume. She now mixes different approaches and adjusts her training based on how she is feeling rather than forcing herself to follow one program exactly. ➡️ Adaptive competition still has room to improve. Jodie’s experience at the New Zealand Championships showed her what real inclusion can look like, with adaptive athletes competing on the main floor and being treated as part of the event rather than an afterthought. ➡️ Parkinson’s is changing how Jodie thinks about what comes next. After 22 years in nursing, Jodie is starting to think about what happens if she can no longer do the work she has done for so long. She is also looking at ways to bring together her experience in nursing, fitness, and Parkinson’s to become more involved in the Parkinson’s community. Key Moments 01:50 Early Parkinson’s Symptoms; Boxing, Weight Training & CrossFit 04:14 CrossFit Coach Notices Changes; Seeking Medical Help 05:00 Testing for MS; Parkinson’s Diagnosis 08:08 Telling Her Family; Life After Diagnosis 09:34 Non-Motor Symptoms; When You Can’t “Just Send It” 10:54 Adaptive CrossFit; 11th in the World; Qualifying for Semifinals 12:12 Adjusting CrossFit Training With Parkinson’s 14:12 Adaptive CrossFit Classification; Competition Standards 16:04 Bodybuilding, Nutrition & Parkinson’s 17:02 Starting Parkinson’s Medication; Stiffness & Rigidity 20:24 Carbidopa/Levodopa; Protein & Training 22:58 Chasing the CrossFit Games 24:47 Adaptive Competition; Inclusion at the New Zealand Championships 26:00 CrossFit Community; From Bodybuilding to CrossFit 27:34 Competitive Bodybuilding; Discipline & Diet 28:55 Returning to Golf; All Abilities Golf 31:56 Parkinson’s, Rigidity & the Golf Swing 33:09 Adaptive Bodybuilding 34:24 All Abilities Golf; Paralympic Possibilities 35:58 Jodie’s Response to Her Parkinson’s Diagnosis 38:29 Young-Onset Parkinson’s; Hesitating to Join Support Groups 39:22 Getting Involved in the Parkinson’s Community 40:38 Nursing, Identity & What Comes Next Connect with Jodie Instagram: @trainingthroughparkinsons (https://www.instagram.com/trainingthroughparkinsons/) Facebook: Jodie Tickle (http://www.facebook.com/jodien.tickle) About the Host Eric Von Frohlich is a fitness entrepreneur, coach, and athlete living with Parkinson's who founded EVF Performance and Row House before his diagnosis in 2020. On the podcast he talks with athletes, experts, and people refusing to let a diagnosis be the end of the story. Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community (https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community) 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey (https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/) 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast (https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-) 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast (https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/) 📘 Facebook: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey (https://www.facebook.com/parkinsonsanathletesjourney) 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey (http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast) 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com (https://evfmethod.com/home) Disclaimer This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.

2. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Train, Don’t Strain | Lorrie Karn

   Lorrie Karn has spent 36 years working in fitness and wellness, much of it with people who need exercise adapted to their individual abilities. Today, she directs Benefitness Adaptive Gym and is completing her doctorate in Health & Wellness Psychology, where she is studying the benefits of exercise for people with movement disorders. She works with people across a wide range of ages and abilities, including people at different stages of Parkinson’s. Eric and Lorrie talk about how Parkinson’s can change posture, gait, spatial awareness, and the connection between the brain and body. They also get into forced exercise, boxing, pickleball, jiu-jitsu, dancing, group training, and how to find the right kind of movement for where you are right now. Key Takeaways ➡️ The best exercise is the one you’ll actually do. Lorrie’s research found benefits across different types of exercise. For someone with Parkinson’s, consistency matters, and that can start with something as simple as walking, swimming, or getting outside and moving. ➡️ Training should be adapted to the person in front of you. Posture, gait, balance, spatial awareness, health history, and where someone is in their Parkinson’s journey can all affect how they train. Lorrie uses those differences to decide where someone should start and what they can build toward. ➡️ Some types of exercise challenge the brain and body at the same time. Boxing, dancing, pickleball, jiu-jitsu, and other activities ask you to coordinate movement, react, maintain spatial awareness, and process what your body needs to do next. ➡️ Start small and build from there. A Parkinson’s diagnosis can make exercise feel like one more thing to figure out. Lorrie encourages people to begin with achievable goals rather than trying to change everything at once, then add more as they are ready. Key Moments 01:55 Lorrie’s Path Into Adaptive Fitness & Movement Disorders 04:00 Continuing Her Education After Decades in Fitness 06:50 A Parkinson’s Diagnosis Doesn’t Define the Person 08:00 How Lorrie Assesses Someone Before They Begin Training 09:10 Proprioception, Spatial Awareness & Parkinson’s 12:00 Posture, Center of Gravity & Shuffling 14:35 Finding the Right Exercise & Starting at the Right Level 17:00 Why Benefitness Integrates People With Different Abilities 20:20 Getting to Know the Person You’re Training 23:45 Starting the Day With Parkinson’s 25:00 Five Categories of Exercise & What Lorrie’s Research Found 26:45 Boxing, Cognitive Processing & Mind-Body Training 28:00 Pickleball, Jiu-Jitsu & Spatial Awareness 29:05 Forced Exercise & Working Both Sides of the Body 30:35 Dancing, Marching & Coordinating Mind and Body 31:35 The Best Exercise Is the One You’ll Do 32:50 Starting Small & Building Achievable Wins 36:05 Group Exercise, Community & Social Connection 37:35 Mixing Different Types of Training 38:20 Overtraining & Knowing When to Pull Back 49:15 Adapting to What Your Body Needs That Day 49:50 Comparing Yourself to Others & Celebrating What You Can Still Do Connect with Lorrie Benefitness Adaptive Gym: benefitnessgym.org (https://www.benefitnessgym.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) LinkedIn: Lorrie Karn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorriekarn?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Benefitness Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & YouTube (https://linktr.ee/benefitnessgym?utm_source=chatgpt.com) About the Host Eric Von Frohlich is a fitness entrepreneur, coach, and athlete living with Parkinson's who founded EVF Performance and Row House before his diagnosis in 2020. On the podcast he talks with athletes, experts, and people refusing to let a diagnosis be the end of the story. Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community (https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community) 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey (https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/) 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast (https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-) 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast (https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/) 📘 Facebook: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey (https://www.facebook.com/parkinsonsanathletesjourney) 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey (http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast) 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com (https://evfmethod.com/home) Disclaimer This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.

3. 

   9 Sept 2026

   How a Diagnosis Led to the Bigfoot Endurance Lacrosse Classic | Kate McLaughlin

   Kate McLaughlin knows what it means to rely on sport when things get difficult. A former Division I lacrosse player and longtime coach, she still draws on many of the things she learned as an athlete: repetition, hard work, relying on a team, and adapting when circumstances change. Those lessons have taken on new meaning since Kate was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s in 2023. Kate continues to train regularly, with boxing, strength, agility, and coordination work all part of her week. She and Eric reflect on how her diagnosis changed her approach to life, and how she’s had to adapt her mindset while finding her way forward. They also talk about adjusting expectations without losing the drive to keep pushing, the role her family and coaching community continue to play in her life, and how the Bigfoot Lacrosse Classic has allowed her to bring the sport she loves into the fight against Parkinson’s. Key Takeaways ➡️ The athlete mindset carries beyond the field. Kate sees repetition, discipline, problem-solving, and learning to rely on a team as skills that prepared her to face obstacles well beyond sport, including Parkinson’s. ➡️ Progress means adjusting what you compare yourself to. Kate still feels the frustration of not being able to do what she once could. She is learning to recognize what her body can do today while continuing to train and challenge herself. ➡️ Training remains a priority. Boxing, strength, agility, and coordination work are regular parts of Kate’s week. Her family understands how important that training is and helps her protect the time to keep doing it. ➡️ Community can turn uncertainty into action. Family, friends, coaches, fellow athletes, and the lacrosse community have given Kate support through difficult days. Through the Bigfoot Lacrosse Classic, that community has also become part of her work to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research. Key Moments 3:30 Lacrosse; First Signs Something Was Wrong 5:40 Son’s College Recruitment; Parkinson’s Changing Perspective 7:25 Athlete Mindset; Repetition, Obstacles & Adaptation 8:40 Parkinson’s Diagnosis; Early Symptoms & Diagnosis Experience 12:30 Community Support; Bigfoot Endurance & Finding Hope 15:20 Confirming the Diagnosis; Friends & Support 18:30 Family; Building the Right Parkinson’s Care Team 20:50 Dystonia; Running & Changes After Diagnosis 24:30 Second Opinion; Trying to Out-Train Parkinson’s 25:50 Telling Her Children; Choosing to Fight 27:15 Bigfoot Lacrosse Classic; Turning to Sport for Action 30:45 Isolation, Community & Finding Other Athletes With Parkinson’s 33:30 Family; Experiencing Parkinson’s as a Parent and a Daughter 38:30 Vulnerability; Losing the Feeling of Being Invincible 41:40 Comparing Past & Present Athletic Performance 43:15 Boxing; Training With Parkinson’s 46:30 Children, Young Athletes & Parkinson’s Advocacy 48:30 Coaching; What Sport Teaches Young Athletes 51:50 Bigfoot Endurance; Lacrosse, Fundraising & Parkinson’s Research Connect with Kate Instagram: @cr.icket8596 (https://www.instagram.com/cr.icket8596) Bigfoot Endurance: http://bigfootendurance.com (http://bigfootendurance.com)2026 Bigfoot Endurance Fundraiser: https://give.michaeljfox.org/event/2026-bigfoot-endurance/e744653 (https://give.michaeljfox.org/event/2026-bigfoot-endurance/e744653) About the Host Eric Von Frohlich is a fitness entrepreneur, coach, and athlete living with Parkinson's who founded EVF Performance and Row House before his diagnosis in 2020. On the podcast he talks with athletes, experts, and people refusing to let a diagnosis be the end of the story. Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community (https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community) 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey (https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/) 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast (https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-) 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast (https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/) 📘 Facebook: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey (https://www.facebook.com/parkinsonsanathletesjourney) 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey (http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast) 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com (https://evfmethod.com/home) Disclaimer This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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