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Tick Boot Camp

Tick Boot Camp

Written 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 552: Childhood Lyme Disease, Medical Gaslighting, The Quiet Epidemic, and Becoming the Doctor She Needed – Julia Bruzzese

    Episode 552: Childhood Lyme Disease, Medical Gaslighting, The Quiet Epidemic, and Becoming the Doctor She Needed – Julia Bruzzese
    Jan 31 2026
    In this powerful and deeply moving episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we sit down with Julia Bruzzese, a 22-year-old Lyme disease survivor, disability advocate, and future physician whose life was forever changed by an untreated tick bite in childhood. After developing a classic bull’s-eye rash at age 9, Julia went undiagnosed for nearly two years, despite textbook symptoms of Lyme disease. By age 11, she experienced a catastrophic neurological decline that left her paraplegic and wheelchair-bound. Over the next decade, Julia saw more than 100 doctors, endured profound medical gaslighting, and navigated an exhausting journey through antibiotics, IVIG, IV antibiotics, plasmapheresis, stem cells, ozone therapy, and integrative care. Julia’s story became internationally known after a moment with Pope Francis on the JFK airport tarmac went viral in 2015—an event that opened doors to care, advocacy, and awareness. She later became the emotional centerpiece of the award-winning documentary The Quiet Epidemic, appeared at New York Fashion Week as a Lyme disease advocate, and was profiled by renowned journalist Mary Beth Pfeiffer. Today, Julia is finishing her undergraduate degree and has been accepted into medical school, determined to become the kind of doctor she needed when the system failed her. This episode is a masterclass in: Pediatric Lyme disease Medical gaslighting vs. lack of education Clinical diagnosis vs. unreliable testing The patient-doctor relationship Chronic illness, disability, and purpose Why Lyme disease changes lives—and why early treatment matters Childhood Lyme Disease & Missed Diagnosis Tick bite and bull’s-eye rash dismissed at age 9 Two years of worsening symptoms labeled as “growing pains,” viruses, or psychological Why early Lyme treatment saves lives Neurological Collapse & Hospital Trauma Sudden onset of paralysis, vision loss, fevers, hair loss, and weakness at age 11 Over 100 doctors and repeated hospitalizations Being accused of malingering and conversion disorder The devastating impact of medical disbelief on children The Quiet Epidemic Documentary How Julia became the heart of the film at age 12 Why she initially hesitated to share her story The emotional impact of seeing her illness reflected on screen How the documentary helps families explain Lyme disease to others Meeting Pope Francis & Global Awareness How a school principal secured last-minute tickets The Pope walks directly to Julia’s wheelchair The moment that changed everything Media coverage that led to access to lifesaving care Treatment Journey Lyme-literate diagnosis by NP Somer DelSignore Oral and IV antibiotics IVIG (including under-dosing issues) Plasmapheresis POTS, Babesia, Bartonella, and autoimmune complications Stem cell therapy abroad Ozone and integrative protocols Why there is no single silver bullet for Lyme disease The Medical System & Lyme Denial Why doctors often say “it’s all in your head” The difference between malice and lack of training How medical education fails chronic illness patients Fear of insurance companies, lawsuits, and “accepted guidelines” Why Lyme is a clinical diagnosis, not a test result Reframing “Medical Gaslighting” Why anger is understandable—but not always healing How patients and doctors can become better partners Understanding doctors’ limitations without excusing harm Advocacy with clarity, not hostility Disability, Identity & Resilience Navigating life and education as a wheelchair user Accommodations, accessibility, and invisible illness “I have Lyme. I am not Lyme.” Learning when to rest, when to fight, and when to live Becoming the Doctor She Needed Working as a medical assistant and hospital volunteer in a wheelchair Applying to and being accepted into medical school Becoming the first wheelchair-using medical student at her institution Why lived experience belongs in medicine Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Lawsuit filed in NYC (March 2021) against multiple doctors and hospitals Failure to diagnose and treat Lyme disease despite clear evidence Why Lyme malpractice cases are rare—and necessary Seeking accountability, not revenge Purpose, Faith & Meaning From “Why me?” to “Why not me?” How suffering clarified her calling The role of faith, family, and community Why Julia wouldn’t give this journey back—even now Memorable Quotes “I was criminalized as an eleven-year-old child for being sick.” “It actually was in my head—the bacteria was in my brain.” “I have Lyme disease. I am not Lyme disease.” “There is no silver bullet for Lyme. Healing is trial and error.” “I wouldn’t be who I am—or know my purpose—without this journey.” Why This Episode Matters This episode is essential listening for: Parents of children with unexplained symptoms Lyme disease and chronic illness patients Medical professionals and students ...
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    1 hr and 53 mins
  • 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
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