Julie talks with Ariel Beccia, a researcher with the Harvard School of Public Health, on her dystonia story and how she got from not running 10 years ago to where she is now with running and racing and workouts.

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The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not licensed medical professionals and do not take the place of your team of medical professionals.

You can find us here: Julie Bergfeld - julie@juliebergfeld.com and juliebergfeld.com (@juliebergfeldcoaching) and JoJo Fraser - joellef510@gmail.com

Julie sits down with Dr. Bernard Ravina, CEO and founder of Vima Therapeutics. His company is developing a drug that looks promising in helping those with dystonia.

Vima Therapeutic website

Vima Therapeutics team

Site for current Phase 2 dystonia study into first oral medication. The study is named "Stride Dystonia"

Survey done with the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF).

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The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not licensed medical professionals and do not take the place of your team of medical professionals.

You can find us here: Julie Bergfeld - julie@juliebergfeld.com and juliebergfeld.com (@juliebergfeldcoaching) and JoJo Fraser - joellef510@gmail.com

Neurologist Erik van Wensen shares his personal story and where we are with current understanding and research in the area of dystonia and specifically task-specific sports dystonia.

Mentioned in the recording:

EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Botox - Botulinum Toxin

David Marsden

Dystonia Medical Research

Dart-Player Jules van Dongen Pedals and Points fundraiser for Dystonia

You can support our work by contributing to research and by supporting the podcast.

Support the show

The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not licensed medical professionals and do not take the place of your team of medical professionals.

You can find us here: Julie Bergfeld - julie@juliebergfeld.com and juliebergfeld.com (@juliebergfeldcoaching) and JoJo Fraser - joellef510@gmail.com

Julie has a conversation with Boulder, CO runner David Abelson. David has cervical dystonia and has been active in running for more than 30 years. In 2022, he developed dystonia and shares his 4 keys to his path of recovery.

"Don't give up"

Mentioned in the podcast:

Botox

Colchicine

Rapamycin

Dr. Steven Frucht at NYU-Langone

Support the show

The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not licensed medical professionals and do not take the place of your team of medical professionals.

You can find us here: Julie Bergfeld - julie@juliebergfeld.com and juliebergfeld.com (@juliebergfeldcoaching) and JoJo Fraser - joellef510@gmail.com

Julie has a conversation with EMDR specialist, Whitney Dittmar,
MA, LPC, EMDR Therapist for Athletes, Performance & Trauma Specialist
Listed in the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Mental Health Directory (2025) for the Mental Health Directory.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be used with athletes and performers to enhance performance, break through mental and physical blocks.

EMDR is therapy that encourages the patient to focus on a traumatic memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the memories. This therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help recovery from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Research shows EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences, and may even be more effective than Prozac in treatment.

• Learn more about Whitney Dittmar, MA LPC
• EMDRIA to locate a therapist in your area

Support the show

The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not licensed medical professionals and do not take the place of your team of medical professionals.

You can find us here: Julie Bergfeld - julie@juliebergfeld.com and juliebergfeld.com (@juliebergfeldcoaching) and JoJo Fraser - joellef510@gmail.com

Julie talks with Stacey Ginesin and Dr. Iahn Cajigas about DBS. We cover a lot of territory here, including how to get the procedure approved by Insurance, when DBS becomes a viable option, success rates, risks and Stacey's experience with dystonia and DBS surgery.

Support the show

The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not licensed medical professionals and do not take the place of your team of medical professionals.

You can find us here: Julie Bergfeld - julie@juliebergfeld.com and juliebergfeld.com (@juliebergfeldcoaching) and JoJo Fraser - joellef510@gmail.com

Julie spends some time with athlete, coach and founder of Spewak Training and Racing, Mark Spewak. Mark is a fellow St. Louisan who recently had heart surgery to repair a PFO (patent foramen ovale), a hole in his heart. in 2025, Mark had two strokes and years prior had a CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) leak.

Despite these health conditions, Mark has the relentless attitude of a champion and maintains hope in an awe-inspiring way.

Here is a link to his training site (https://spewaktraining.com) and a bit more about Mark (https://spewaktraining.com/mark)

Support the show

The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not licensed medical professionals and do not take the place of your team of medical professionals.

You can find us here: Julie Bergfeld - julie@juliebergfeld.com and juliebergfeld.com (@juliebergfeldcoaching) and JoJo Fraser - joellef510@gmail.com

Join us in a conversation with Dr. David Clarke, a retired Doctor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, who found patients with normal labs and diagnostics never were able to resolve their chronic conditions.

Through a series of fortunate events, he discovered a framework to help these patients quickly overcome many chronic issues that "modern" medicine lacked to resolve. Through many hours of client work, he believes that Neuroplastic recovery IS possible with the right partners, tools and techniques.

Please listen, comment, like and share our work.

Dr. Clarke's first book is They Can't Find Anything Wrong!

www.Symptomatic.me for the non-profit Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms

www.CurableHealth.com for the app Curable

https://www.trynervana.com for the app Nervana

Support the show

The information shared in this podcast is not intended to diagnose. recommend nor treat medical conditions. We are not licensed medical professionals and do not take the place of your team of medical professionals.

You can find us here: Julie Bergfeld - julie@juliebergfeld.com and juliebergfeld.com (@juliebergfeldcoaching) and JoJo Fraser - joellef510@gmail.com