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Tick Boot Camp

Tick Boot Camp

By: Matt Sabatello and Rich Johannesen
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 The goal of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast is to help people liberate themselves and others from suffering caused by Lyme disease through validation, community building, belief that healing is possible, and modeling success. Listen to our Tick Boot Camp podcast using all major podcast streaming services such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. Our podcast is also integrated with smart home devices, such as Amazon Alexa and Apple TV. Ask your device to "play the Tick Boot Camp Podcast!"Copyright 2025 Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Episode 551: From Lithuania to Lyme: Dr. Karolina Pras’ Journey Through Mold, Long COVID & Chronic Illness — Tick Boot Camp

    Episode 551: From Lithuania to Lyme: Dr. Karolina Pras’ Journey Through Mold, Long COVID & Chronic Illness — Tick Boot Camp
    Jan 24 2026
    In this powerful episode, Tick Boot Camp Podcast interviews Dr. Karolina Praskeviciute (“Dr. Pras”), a multilingual, European-trained medical doctor who has lived in Lithuania, Hong Kong, London, and the United States, traveled to 89 countries, and now uses her global experience to understand chronic illness from a unique vantage point. Dr. Pras shares her deeply personal story of lifelong unexplained symptoms, childhood mold exposure, a bull’s-eye rash at age 15, and a medical system unequipped to recognize chronic tick-borne illness. After a devastating case of early COVID-19 in February 2020, her immune system collapsed, triggering full-blown Lyme disease, Babesia, Bartonella, tick-borne relapsing fever, MCAS, and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). This conversation bridges both sides of medicine—Western and functional—and explores how chronic illness forced Dr. Pras to reevaluate everything she learned as a third-generation physician. She now brings a rare, dual perspective as both clinician and patient. Key Topics Covered ➤ Growing up in Lithuania: culture, safety, freedom & early mold exposure She describes an independent childhood surrounded by nature—but also living in a poorly insulated home with significant hidden mold that triggered early allergies, stomach pain, nosebleeds, and metallic taste. ➤ Medical school awakening: Why Western medicine failed her symptoms Despite coming from a family of doctors, she noticed early on that conventional medicine couldn’t explain many of her symptoms—and she witnessed firsthand how chronic illness is minimized, dismissed, or mislabeled. ➤ The first tick bite at 15 & the bull’s-eye rash ignored by doctors Despite developing textbook erythema migrans, pediatricians refused treatment. Her mother initiated a short doxycycline course on her own—far too short to prevent chronic Lyme. ➤ Traveling the world & accumulating exposures After living and working across continents, she now believes different strains, microbes, and environmental factors layered into the perfect storm. ➤ Long COVID as the breaking point Like many chronically ill patients, COVID destabilized everything: massive immune dysregulation nonstop inflammation MCAS flares worsening neurological symptoms Lyme and Babesia fully activating ➤ Mold + Lyme + Long COVID = The Perfect Storm Her CIRS diagnosis revealed why she never recovered even after leaving mold exposure—and why immune dysfunction made Lyme treatment far more complex. ➤ Her diagnostic breakthrough with IGeneX After repeated false-negative Western blots, specialty testing finally uncovered: Lyme Babesia Bartonella Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) Immune activation on FISH testing ➤ Treatment: Herbs, LymeStop, detox, keto, and functional medicine Her current regimen includes: Houttuynia (major reduction in joint pain within 1 week) Cryptolepis (powerful antimicrobial requiring slow titration) Custom herbal protocols (single-herb tinctures) HBOT INUSpheresis Light sauna Gentle lymphatic drainage Vagus nerve support Journaling & limbic system retraining Strict ketogenic diet after a 7-day fast dramatically reduced inflammation She also discusses the risks of Botox, fillers, tattoos, and skincare toxins for chronically ill patients. ➤ Nervous system healing as the foundation of recovery She explains why vagus nerve work and limbic retraining may fail if patients are still in toxin exposure (like mold or endotoxins)—a vital distinction rarely discussed. ➤ Becoming a doctor who understands chronic illness from both sides This episode explores: medical defensiveness gaslighting vs unhealthy doctor-patient dynamics why patients must be empowered, not dismissed why doctors also need compassion and realistic expectations how her future clinical practice will integrate empathy, functional medicine, and lived experience Top Quotes From Dr. Pras “I dismissed my own symptoms because I was trained to believe nothing was wrong unless labs proved it.” “Mold was the silent force that weakened my system long before Lyme took over.” “Healing is not linear. Some days it feels like I’m starting over, but I always come back stronger.” “Doctors have tools—but without a healthy doctor-patient relationship, those tools don’t work.” “I can help others now because I know when to push and when to pull back. Lived experience matters.” Where to Find Dr. Karolina Pras Instagram: @drkaromd Email: drkaro@healthkonsultant.com (“consultant” spelled with a K)
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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Episode 550: Jesse Ruben: Chronic Lyme Disease, Music, Remission, Relapse, and the Long Road Back

    Episode 550: Jesse Ruben: Chronic Lyme Disease, Music, Remission, Relapse, and the Long Road Back
    Jan 17 2026
    Singer-songwriter and Lyme disease advocate Jesse Ruben joins the Tick Boot Camp Podcast for an incredibly honest, emotional, and deeply educational conversation about chronic Lyme disease, identity loss, treatment failure, unconventional healing, relapse, nervous system trauma, and the role of music and community in survival. Jesse’s journey spans more than a decade and includes misdiagnosis, years of antibiotic treatment, experimental therapies, remission, relapse during the pandemic, gut microbiome restoration, nervous system healing, and ultimately a renewed sense of purpose through advocacy and art. This episode is essential listening for anyone navigating chronic Lyme disease, supporting someone who is sick, or questioning whether healing is still possible. Jesse Ruben’s Early Life and Music Career Jesse grew up outside Philadelphia, surrounded by music, creativity, and curiosity. While he jokes that his songwriting degree was “a very expensive, useless piece of paper,” the competitive creative environment of music school helped sharpen his storytelling voice. By his early 20s, Jesse was living in New York City, touring, running marathons, and building momentum as an independent musician. He had just completed his third New York City Marathon, was in peak physical condition, and his career was accelerating—until his health began to unravel. The Onset of Illness: When Lyme Disease Took Everything Jesse’s first red flag appeared when he became short of breath climbing subway stairs, despite being a marathon runner. Soon after, nausea, dizziness, headaches, neurological symptoms, and crushing fatigue followed. On Christmas Day 2012, Jesse developed what seemed like a flu that never went away. Over the following months, symptoms escalated dramatically: Severe fatigue that made basic movement impossible Brain fog and memory loss Crawling sensations under the skin Air hunger and dizziness Anxiety, depression, and mood changes Weight loss and neurological dysfunction Despite seeing 15 doctors over nine months, Jesse received conflicting diagnoses ranging from vitamin deficiencies to fibromyalgia and lupus. Every test came back “normal.” Insurance denied coverage. Doctors told him he would “have to live with it.” During a national tour, Jesse was so debilitated that a friend physically lifted him onto the stage to perform, then carried him back to the van afterward. Eventually, through relentless self-research, Jesse discovered a symptom list online that finally connected the dots: Lyme disease. Diagnosis and Early Treatment Failure Jesse was ultimately diagnosed at the Morrison Center in New York City, where testing confirmed: Lyme disease Babesia Mycoplasma His initial treatment path included: 6 months of oral doxycycline 18 months of IV azithromycin Antiparasitics Mepron (for Babesia) Antifungals, antivirals, supplements, and Chinese herbs Despite years of treatment, nothing produced lasting improvement. Jesse describes his life during this period as being reduced to pill schedules, doctor visits, and survival mode. The Game Changer: Chelation and Ozone Therapy After nearly three years with minimal progress, Jesse’s provider, Dr. Gerald (“Jerry”) T. Simons at the Morrison Center, suggested a more experimental approach: chelation combined with ozone therapy. Jesse underwent IV chelation and ozone therapy multiple times per week for several months. The results were dramatic. Nearly all of Jesse’s symptoms resolved, and for the first time, he felt like himself again. Even years later, booster ozone treatments helped stop symptom flares before they escalated. 🔗 Learn more about Dr. Simons and the Morrison Center: https://www.morrisonhealth.com/staff/gerald-t-simons-pa-c/ Remission, Identity Loss, and the Hidden Trauma of Healing Jesse entered remission around 2016, but recovery wasn’t simple. While his body improved, his nervous system remained dysregulated, leaving him: Angry Hypervigilant Emotionally reactive Afraid symptoms would return Lyme disease had stolen not only his health but his identity as a musician, partner, and person. Re-entering the world—socially, professionally, and emotionally—was deeply challenging. Music Born From Illness Jesse channeled his experience into music that resonated deeply with the Lyme community. 🎵 Monster Written from a voice memo recorded at 4:45 a.m. during a rare moment of mental clarity, Monster captures the fear, rage, and disbelief of living in an invisible war within your own body. 🔗 Watch “Monster”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJQKVSA_7Gw 🎵 This Is Why I Need You Written after Jesse entered remission, this song is a tribute to the doctors, nurses, friends, and strangers who carried him through the darkest years. It has since surpassed tens of millions of streams worldwide. 🔗 Watch “This Is Why I Need You”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4NgsbkyeJs Generation Lyme: Turning Pain ...
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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • Episode 549: How Chronic Illness Really Works: Dr. Eric Gordon on Lyme, Mold, MCAS, and the Path Back to Health — Tick Boot Camp

    Episode 549: How Chronic Illness Really Works: Dr. Eric Gordon on Lyme, Mold, MCAS, and the Path Back to Health — Tick Boot Camp
    Jan 10 2026
    In this episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, Dr. Eric D. Gordon — globally recognized expert in Lyme disease, ME/CFS, mold toxicity, MCAS, mitochondrial dysfunction, and complex chronic illness — explains why chronic illness is never caused by a single factor and why recovery requires a strategic “order of operations.” Recorded after meeting at Project Lab Coat during NYFW, this conversation dives into chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, why some people stay sick for years, why certain treatments backfire, how metabolomics reveals dysfunction that standard tests miss, and the future of individualized chronic illness care. Guest Bio Medical Director, Gordon Medical Associates, and President, Gordon Medical Research Center Dr. Gordon has 45+ years of experience treating the most complex chronic illness cases. He specializes in: Lyme disease and tick-borne infections ME/CFS and post-infectious illness Mold and mycotoxin exposure Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) Autoimmune disease Environmental illness Mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic collapse He co-authored the landmark 2016 PNAS metabolomics study with Dr. Robert Naviaux, which reshaped global understanding of ME/CFS and chronic inflammatory diseases. Key Topics Covered How Dr. Gordon became one of the world’s leading chronic illness clinicians Why patient belief and validation are foundational to healing Why chronic illness cases don’t fit conventional medical models Why herbs often worsen symptoms in MCAS or inflamed patients When pharmaceuticals help stabilize sensitive patients How chronic inflammation blocks trace mineral absorption The link between minerals, B vitamins, mitochondria, and NAD/NADH When detoxification helps — and when it causes more harm How childhood infections and environment shape lifelong immunity The massive impact of modern microbiome disruption Mold illness as the “great derailer” of Lyme treatment Why genetics like MTHFR and HLA are not destiny Why some people heal from Lyme without treatment How metabolomics and AI will usher in precision medicine What actually keeps people sick — accumulated compensations, not the tick bite What intuitive patients get right (and wrong) about their symptoms Timestamps 0:02 – Meeting Dr. Gordon at Project Labcoat 1:08 – Who he is and how he entered complex illness medicine 2:30 – Realizing conventional medicine fails chronic patients 5:45 – Why chronic illness doesn’t fit standard algorithms 8:10 – Herbs vs antibiotics: what most people misunderstand 11:28 – Inflammation and why sensitive patients react to everything 13:45 – MCAS and immune overactivation 16:25 – Why herbal formulas can trigger flares 19:30 – Pharmaceuticals that calm inflammation 20:50 – Trace minerals, mitochondrial function, and NAD pathways 23:55 – Why standard labs can’t see cellular dysfunction 26:10 – How childhood immune experiences shape resilience 28:40 – Environmental changes and microbiome decline 30:30 – Shoes, posture, fascia, lymphatics 36:35 – Structural healing and hypersensitive patients 41:20 – Founding Gordon Medical Associates 43:00 – Early discoveries with Lyme disease patients 48:30 – Detoxification, herbal protocols, and mold models 52:10 – Mold’s ability to halt all progress 55:30 – Why mold affects some family members and not others 57:20 – How food supply antibiotics disrupt immunity 59:50 – Genetics are possibilities, not fate 1:03:20 – Why some people recover after a tick bite and others don’t 1:07:00 – How AI and metabolomics will transform treatment 1:10:40 – Genes vs environment 1:13:30 – Chronic illness requires many small steps 1:16:00 – How to work with Dr. Gordon 1:18:30 – Final message of hope Pull Quotes “Chronic illness is not caused by one thing — and it’s never healed by one thing.” “Herbs depend on your body’s ability to modulate inflammation. If you can’t dampen the fire, herbs feel like gasoline.” “Genetics are not destiny. They’re possibilities.” “Mold makes every other treatment look like it’s failing.” “You can absolutely get well — but there is no single magic bullet.” Call to Action If this episode brought you clarity or hope, please share it with someone navigating chronic Lyme, mold illness, MCAS, or ME/CFS. Subscribe and leave a review to help more people find this conversation and believe that healing is possible.
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    1 hr and 20 mins
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