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.
Parkinson's: An Athlete's Journey
Claim This Podcastby Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt
28 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
Podcast Overview
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.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/20/2026
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Recent Episodes
August 19, 2026
Still Choosing the Hard Climb | Chris Hamper
<p>hris Hamper has been obsessed with climbing ever since he can remember.</p><p>When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 13 years ago, one of his first thoughts was that he wouldn’t be able to climb anymore. He soon found that wasn’t the case. Chris has continued climbing throughout his diagnosis, even as Parkinson’s has made some movements and parts of the sport increasingly difficult.</p><p>That experience became the subject of the documentary The Parkinson’s Project, which follows Chris and the role climbing continues to play in his life with Parkinson’s.</p><p>Chris talks about the unexpected ways Parkinson’s has affected him, how he has kept climbing as his abilities have changed, and why he believes you can still get better at things after a diagnosis.</p><p>Key Takeaways</p><p>➡️ You can still get better at things after diagnosis.<br>After 13 years with Parkinson’s, Chris still believes there is room to learn, improve, and take on new challenges. His own experience has included continuing to climb, rebuilding a car, learning new skills, and recently taking up cycling.</p><p>➡️ Adaptation has kept Chris climbing.<br>As his left hand became harder to use, Chris changed how he moved between holds, became more selective about routes, and relied on friends for parts of climbing that had become difficult.</p><p>➡️ Effort can stay high even when performance changes.<br>Chris still prefers attempting harder climbs over choosing something easy. He says he tries as hard now as he did when he was climbing at his best, even though the level has changed.</p><p>➡️ Parkinson’s can affect the drive to do something you love.<br>Chris talks about losing the anticipation he once felt around surfing and snowboarding, and how the data and gamification of Zwift have helped give him another reason to keep pushing himself.</p><p>Key Moments</p><p>06:00 Early Parkinson’s signs in the classroom and on the climbing wall<br>07:10 Initial ALS concern and receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis<br>08:54 Early symptoms and expectations after diagnosis<br>09:50 Returning to climbing after thinking it was over<br>10:18 Adapting his climbing around changes in his left hand<br>12:17 Changing how he taught physics with Parkinson’s<br>14:36 Multitasking, apathy and everyday challenges<br>16:25 Losing the ability and desire to snowboard and surf<br>18:28 Finding a new challenge through Zwift<br>20:52 Why harder climbs can sometimes be easier with Parkinson’s<br>22:58 Freezing on the climbing wall<br>23:18 Lead climbing, fear and continuing to try hard<br>24:50 The story behind The Parkinson’s Project<br>26:01 Advice for someone newly diagnosed<br>26:25 Rebuilding a car and learning new skills after diagnosis<br>27:28 Blackouts, vivid dreams and the decision to stop driving<br>29:14 Balance problems and newer Parkinson’s symptoms<br>32:06 Climbing identity and competing in paraclimbing<br>34:19 What’s next: climbing at Rocklands in Africa<br>35:11 Becoming the best climber, teacher and Parkinson’s patient he can be</p><p>Connect with Chris</p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chris.mj.hamper/">@chris.mj.hamper</a><br>Movie Website: <a href="https://www.theparkinsonsprojectfilm.com/theparkinsonsproject">The Parkinson’s Project</a></p><p>About the Host</p><p>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.</p><p>Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey</p><p>📩 Join our Community: <a href="https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community"><strong>https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community</strong></a><br>🎧 Listen and Subscribe: <a href="https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/"><strong>Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey</strong></a><br>🎬 Watch on YouTube: <a href="https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-"><strong>@parkinsonsathletepodcast</strong></a><br>📸 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/"><strong>@parkinsonsathletepodcast</strong></a><br>📘 Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/parkinsonsanathletesjourney"><strong>Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey</strong></a><br>🤝 LinkedIn: <a href="http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast"><strong>Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey</strong></a><br>🌐 Website: <a href="https://evfmethod.com/home"><strong>www.evfmethod.com</strong></a></p><p>Disclaimer</p><p>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.</p>
August 12, 2026
Adaptability Is the New Resilience | Becky Johnson
<p>Becky Johnson has spent decades pushing her limits.</p><p>She has raced ultramarathons, trained in CrossFit for more than a decade, and recently earned a spot at the CrossFit Adaptive Games. Training has always been part of how she approaches challenges, long before she was diagnosed with Parkinson's.</p><p>When subtle changes began affecting her running, grip strength, and coordination, Becky assumed they were unrelated. After months of appointments, spinal surgery, and eventually a Parkinson's diagnosis, she had to learn how to train in a body that no longer responded the way it once had.</p><p>In this conversation, Becky shares how she has adapted her training, why the CrossFit community became an essential part of her recovery, and what it takes to keep showing up on the mornings when Parkinson's makes even getting out of bed feel difficult. She also reflects on learning to ask for help, balancing intensity with consistency, and why adaptability, more than resilience, has become the mindset that guides her forward.</p><p>Key Takeaways</p><p>➡️ Adaptability became the foundation for staying an athlete.<br>Becky explains why resilience alone is not enough. Parkinson's constantly changes the equation, requiring athletes to adjust their training, routines, expectations, and even long-term plans without giving up on progress.</p><p>➡️ Community made it possible to keep moving forward.<br>From recovering after spinal surgery to competing at the CrossFit Adaptive Games, Becky describes how training alongside others kept her connected, accountable, and prevented the isolation that often follows a Parkinson's diagnosis.</p><p>➡️ Consistency matters more than intensity.<br>Instead of chasing personal records every day, Becky shares how she scales workouts, manages medication, prioritizes recovery, and focuses on showing up consistently so she can keep training for the long term.</p><p>➡️ The first goal after diagnosis is simply the next step.<br>Rather than thinking years into the future, Becky encourages newly diagnosed people to focus on the next breath, the next task, and the next decision. Breaking overwhelming moments into manageable steps helped her regain a sense of control.</p><p>Key Moments:</p><p>0:41 Finding CrossFit and the Adaptive Games<br>3:50 Qualifying for the CrossFit Adaptive Games with Parkinson's<br>5:35 Why getting to the gym starts with small wins<br>10:11 The symptoms that didn't seem like Parkinson's<br>13:54 A spinal surgeon changes the diagnosis<br>19:07 Recovery, community, and learning to ask for help<br>22:45 Rebuilding athleticism on a different path<br>26:47 The invisible reality of living with Parkinson's<br>27:53 Why CrossFit works so well for Parkinson's<br>32:41 Training around medication and symptom fluctuations<br>38:14 Finding belonging at the Adaptive Games<br>40:35 Adaptability versus resilience<br>41:50 Advice for someone newly diagnosed<br>45:18 Protecting your energy and setting boundaries<br>46:16 What's next: mobility, strength, and long-term training<br>49:13 Balancing intensity with consistency<br>51:42 Redefining identity beyond athletic achievements</p><p>Connect with Becky</p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/beckyjohnson_1971/"><strong>@beckyjohnson_1971</strong></a></p><p>About the Host</p><p>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.</p><p>Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey</p><p>📩 Join our Community: <a href="https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community"><strong>https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community</strong></a><br>🎧 Listen and Subscribe: <a href="https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/"><strong>Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey</strong></a><br>🎬 Watch on YouTube: <a href="https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-"><strong>@parkinsonsathletepodcast</strong></a><br>📸 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/"><strong>@parkinsonsathletepodcast</strong></a><br>📘 Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/parkinsonsanathletesjourney"><strong>Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey</strong></a><br>🤝 LinkedIn: <a href="http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast"><strong>Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey</strong></a><br>🌐 Website: <a href="https://evfmethod.com/home"><strong>www.evfmethod.com</strong></a></p><p>Disclaimer</p><p>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.</p>
August 5, 2026
Don't Bury Your Head in the Sand | Jodi Brown
<p>Jodi Brown is the CEO of Parkinson Association of the Rockies (PAR), a nonprofit serving people with Parkinson's and their care partners across Colorado and Wyoming.</p><p>After leaving a career in corporate marketing and finance, Jodi helped transform the organization, expanding exercise programs, support groups, educational events, equipment loans, and community services while doubling its revenue, services, and staff. Her work is built around a simple idea: the sooner people connect with resources and other people living with Parkinson's, the better equipped they are to keep moving forward.</p><p>In this conversation, Jodi shares what she's learned from supporting thousands of people living with Parkinson's, why connecting with the right resources early matters, and how community, exercise, and education help people continue moving forward after diagnosis.</p><p>Key Takeaways:</p><p>➡️ Support looks different in every community.<br>Parkinson Association of the Rockies builds programs around the needs of each community rather than using the same model everywhere, recognizing that access, geography, and local resources vary widely across Colorado and Wyoming.</p><p>➡️ Connecting early can change the experience after diagnosis.<br>Jodi explains why so many people wait months or even years before seeking support, and why finding exercise, education, and community early helps people better understand the condition and feel less alone.</p><p>➡️ Exercise is only one part of living well with Parkinson's.<br>While movement remains central, Jodi discusses the importance of support groups, education, care partner resources, and practical services that help people continue navigating life with Parkinson's.</p><p>Key Moments:</p><p>0:30 Jodi's Journey to Parkinson Association of the Rockies<br>4:17 Why Every Community Needs Different Support<br>6:43 The Five Pillars of Parkinson Association of the Rockies<br>14:20 Research, Conferences & What's Changing<br>17:00 Why the First Months After Diagnosis Matter<br>20:20 Building the Future of Parkinson Association of the Rockies<br>26:56 Jodi's Advice for the Newly Diagnosed<br>29:04 Finding Your Way Back to Movement</p><p>Connect with Parkinson Association of the Rockies</p><p>Website: <a href="https://parkinsonrockies.org/"><strong>https://parkinsonrockies.org</strong></a><br>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/parockies/"><strong>@parockies</strong></a><br>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PARockies"><strong>Parkinson Association of the Rockies</strong></a><br>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ParkinsonRockies"><strong>Parkinson Association of the Rockies</strong></a><br>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/parockies/"><strong>Parkinson Association of the Rockies</strong></a></p><p>About the Host</p><p>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.</p><p>Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey</p><p>📩 Join our Community: <a href="https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community"><strong>https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community</strong></a><br>🎧 Listen and Subscribe: <a href="https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/"><strong>Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey</strong></a><br>🎬 Watch on YouTube: <a href="https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-"><strong>@parkinsonsathletepodcast</strong></a><br>📸 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/"><strong>@parkinsonsathletepodcast</strong></a><br>📘 Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/parkinsonsanathletesjourney"><strong>Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey</strong></a><br>🤝 LinkedIn: <a href="http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast"><strong>Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey</strong></a><br>🌐 Website: <a href="https://evfmethod.com/home"><strong>www.evfmethod.com</strong></a></p><p>Disclaimer</p><p>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.</p>
28 total episodes available
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