Parkinson's: An Athlete's Journey

Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Fitness

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.

  1. Challenge the Body Enough to Adapt | Jorge Quintero

    3d ago

    Challenge the Body Enough to Adapt | Jorge Quintero

    Jorge Quintero’s work with Parkinson’s began in the operating room. As an electrical engineer working in neurotechnology, he supported deep brain stimulation surgeries and watched people with severe tremors experience immediate changes once stimulation was turned on. That experience led him deeper into clinical neuroscience and into a question that now shapes much of his work: how much can the brain change when it is trained with the right demands? Jorge is now a clinical neuroscientist, NASM certified personal trainer, and founder of NeuroGym, an athletics gym built around mental health and brain performance. His approach blends neuroscience, fitness, and practical movement training for people dealing with brain conditions, including Parkinson’s. Eric and Jorge explore what Parkinson’s changes in the brain and body, and why varied, athletic training can help people keep building capacity after diagnosis. They get into deep brain stimulation, neuroplasticity, cognitive reserve, proprioception, progressive muscle relaxation, rope flow, learned helplessness, and the value of doing things that are challenging enough to wake the system up. Key Takeaways ➡️ The brain needs challenge to keep adapting.Jorge returns to neuroplasticity throughout the conversation, especially the idea that the brain can keep changing when it is asked to learn, coordinate, remember, balance, and move in new ways. ➡️ Parkinson’s training has to go beyond cardio and strength.Eric and Jorge talk about the value of varied athletic training, including balance, footwork, proprioception, reaction, rope flow, cognitive load, and skills that keep the body solving problems. ➡️ Confidence is part of movement.Freezing, shuffling, and hesitation are connected to how clearly the brain reads the body and the environment. Better sensory input, balance work, and body awareness can help rebuild trust in movement. ➡️ Learned helplessness can shape the diagnosis experience.Jorge and Eric discuss how quickly people can begin living inside the limits they expect. The conversation pushes toward action, curiosity, social connection, and training that gives people evidence they can still adapt. Key Moments 00:50 Jorge’s background in engineering, neuroscience, DBS, NeuroGym, and Parkinson Power Protocol03:24 What deep brain stimulation is and when it becomes an option04:25 Seeing tremor suppressed during DBS surgery07:42 Current treatment options and adaptive deep brain stimulation09:06 Stem cell therapy, bemdaneprocel, and the exPDite trial10:45 Cognitive reserve, neuroplasticity, and proactive brain health16:04 Neuroplasticity as a double-edged sword20:41 Feet, gait, freezing, and the brain’s body map23:20 Balance as a neurological task: proprioception, vision, and vestibular input27:09 Why athletic, multimodal training matters for Parkinson’s29:42 Why Jorge started NeuroGym32:06 Learned helplessness and the diagnosis mindset33:42 Breath work, interoception, and progressive muscle relaxation36:23 Rope flow, spatial awareness, proprioception, and coordination38:25 Motor reserve and why adults need more movement variety43:58 Self-directed neuroplasticity and living well with Parkinson’s44:17 Group exercise, social engagement, and brain health45:29 Jiu-jitsu, pickleball, and building motor reserve through sport49:44 Cognitive load through memory, reaction, and coordination drills52:43 Intensity, lactate, and the brain benefits of exercise56:33 What newly diagnosed people should understand about adaptability58:30 Parkinson’s as a movement disorder and why movement remains essential59:34 How to connect with Jorge and NeuroGym Connect with Jorge LinkedIn: Jorge QuinteroWebsite: https://theneurogym.orgInstagram: @theneurogymYouTube: @theneurogym 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🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com 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.

    1h 1m
  2. The Brain Has to Get the Memo | Garrett Salpeter

    Jun 3

    The Brain Has to Get the Memo | Garrett Salpeter

    Garrett Salpeter’s work began with a personal injury and a question that stayed with him: why did recovery often feel so limited? As a hockey player and engineering student, he became interested in the nervous system, direct current stimulation, and the ways the body responds after injury. That path eventually led him to found NeuFit, where his work focuses on helping people improve movement, recovery, activation, and function by working directly with the nervous system. His work has extended beyond sports performance into neurological conditions, including early research on how NeuFit treatments affect sleep quality in people with Parkinson's. Garrett joins Eric to talk about neuroplasticity, recovery, performance, and direct current stimulation. They also discuss autonomic function, the nervous system's role in movement, and what it means to create enough input to maintain or rebuild capacity over time. Key Takeaways ➡️ The nervous system sits at the center of movement.Garrett explains how recovery, activation, coordination, and performance all depend on the signals moving between the brain and body. ➡️ Neuroplasticity depends on repeated input.Creating change requires enough stimulation, repetition, and consistency for the nervous system to recognize which pathways are worth maintaining or rebuilding. ➡️ Recovery and performance are closely connected.Good rehab and good performance training often share the same goals: restore movement patterns, address weak links, load tissues well, and build capacity over time. ➡️ Sleep and autonomic function matter for Parkinson’s.Garrett and Eric discuss sleep disruption, recovery, parasympathetic function, and early research exploring NeuFit treatments and sleep quality in people with Parkinson’s. Key Moments 00:00 Garrett’s background in hockey, injury, and recovery04:21 Early patient work and major turning points05:20 Spinal cord injury, neuroplasticity, and learning to walk again08:18 The impact of helping one person09:24 Fascia, direct current, and the nervous system16:42 The brain-body connection goes both ways18:40 Eric on morning symptoms, mindset, and Parkinson’s20:34 MS, neuropathy, and neurological case work23:01 Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and nerve function25:46 Early Parkinson’s sleep quality research26:43 Sleep, recovery, autophagy, and brain cleanup28:10 Parkinson’s research, Phoenix, and Linda Denny29:41 Neuroplasticity and how the nervous system adapts31:36 Habits, repetition, and building new pathways33:49 Creating enough input for the nervous system36:28 Recovery, activation, and performance37:24 Vagus nerve, parasympathetic function, and autonomic reset41:11 What gives Garrett hope44:13 Recovery and performance as overlapping worlds Connect with Garrett LinkedIn: Garret SalpeterInstagram: @neufitrfpYouTube: @NeufitWebsite: www.neu.fit.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🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com 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.

    48 min
  3. 100 Marathons, 100 Days, and a Honda Odyssey Named Herbie | Larry Grogin

    May 27

    100 Marathons, 100 Days, and a Honda Odyssey Named Herbie | Larry Grogin

    Larry Grogin is halfway through running 100 marathons in 100 consecutive days. He started in New Jersey on March 24 and is making his way toward Southern California as part of Strides for Humanity, a run raising awareness and support for people living with Parkinson’s. Each day starts with the same challenge: cover 26.2 miles, manage what Parkinson’s brings, and get up the next morning to do it again. Larry has spent decades around movement as a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and endurance athlete, having completed more than 300 marathons and 30 Ironman triathlons. Having been diagnosed in 2019 with Parkinson's, he marked his 71st birthday with the start of his run to show what movement can still look like after diagnosis. He talks about the long warmups, the moments when his stride has to shorten, and the people along the road who help him keep going. At the center of the run is a simple hope: that someone sees what he is doing and decides to walk a mile, get out of bed, or do a little more than they thought they could. Key Takeaways ➡️ Movement starts before the miles do.Larry spends hours warming up before his body begins to feel available. The early work is patience, rhythm, and staying with it long enough to get moving. ➡️ Adaptation can be small and practical.When his body resists, Larry shortens his stride, changes the pace, or gives himself time to rest. The goal is to keep moving in a way his body can handle. ➡️ One person moving can help someone else start.Larry wants people with Parkinson’s to see the run and try something of their own. That might mean walking, running, getting out of bed, or doing a little more than yesterday. ➡️ Past challenges become tools.Larry draws on decades of marathons, triathlons, and difficult races. Those experiences remind him that hard moments shift, and the next mile can feel different from the last. Key Moments 01:43 Eric introduces Larry and his 100 marathons in 100 days challenge02:49 Larry’s athletic background and getting into triathlon04:36 Living with Parkinson’s instead of trying to beat it06:38 The first signs of Parkinson’s and getting diagnosed in 201908:06 Why exercise can be hard to start with Parkinson’s08:35 Larry’s long warmups and what running every day is teaching him14:09 Why Larry decided to run 100 marathons in 100 days15:52 What happens when the body says no17:39 Running 100 consecutive marathons and reaching day 5019:23 Lessons from long endurance races21:19 Purpose, resilience, and the human spirit28:47 The route, the support vehicle, and how Larry chooses places to run30:05 Learning his off times and when to stop fighting the body31:18 Medication, exercise, and managing Parkinson’s day to day33:32 What 50 straight marathons have taught him about adaptation36:35 Planning the finish in Calabasas38:23 Larry’s message for someone newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s43:58 Dreaming big and refusing to limit the goal too early45:01 The hard moments behind the optimism Larry Grogin: Strides for Humanity / Run Larry Run: https://dpf.org/runlarryrunIG: @runlarryrun26Follow the journey: #RunLarryRun 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🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com 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.

    44 min
  4. You Are Not Fragile | Gaia Forlani

    May 13

    You Are Not Fragile | Gaia Forlani

    Before Gaia Forlani became a neuroscientist, she was a professional ballerina. Ballet gave her a direct understanding of movement at a high level: control, rhythm, timing, strength, coordination, and the constant feedback between the brain and the body. That background still shapes how she sees Parkinson’s. Today, she works at the intersection of neuroscience, coaching, and Parkinson’s performance, helping people think differently about movement, training, and identity after diagnosis. Eric and Gaia talk about why so many people with Parkinson’s are treated as fragile, even when they are strong, capable, and willing to train. They also get into purposeful training, recovery, sleep, overtraining, cognition, and the difficult overlap between Parkinson’s and aging. Key Takeaways ➡️ People with Parkinson’s are not fragile.Gaia challenges the way people with Parkinson’s are often treated as passive, incapable, or already declining, especially when many are still strong, capable, and willing to train. ➡️ Training needs purpose, not just effort.Eric and Gaia separate general activity from purposeful training, including strength, power, coordination, and movement that is matched to the person’s goals and capacity. ➡️ Recovery is part of performance.More exercise is not always better. Gaia and Eric talk about sleep, recovery, overtraining, and why athletes with Parkinson’s need to take rest as seriously as training. ➡️ Identity shapes how people adapt.The language people use around Parkinson’s matters. Gaia talks about seeing people as athletes rather than patients, while also recognizing that the constant “fight” mindset can become exhausting. Key Moments 00:01 — Eric asks about Gaia’s “You Are Not Fragile” message00:22 — Why Gaia pushes back on people with Parkinson’s being treated as fragile03:15 — Eric reflects on mindset, gratitude, and not feeling like a victim05:34 — Gaia’s path from ballerina to neuroscientist10:32 — How ballet shaped Gaia’s understanding of the brain and body12:46 — Treating the whole person as an athlete13:00 — Language, identity, and not calling people with Parkinson’s patients13:56 — Sleep, recovery, and neurological regulation14:55 — The risk of doing too much after diagnosis17:28 — When exercise becomes harmful without the right foundation18:44 — General movement versus exercise medicine20:27 — Cognition, strength training, and metabolic health23:25 — Aging versus Parkinson’s symptoms24:53 — Muscle loss, strength, power, and bradykinesia28:34 — Looking at the person before the diagnosis29:15 — Training professionals to understand Parkinson’s movement31:01 — Gaia’s work moving online and reaching a wider audience32:02 — Coaching as a two-way learning process32:34 — Eric compares Parkinson’s adaptation to jiu-jitsu34:20 — Why the “fight” against Parkinson’s can be motivating but also exhausting36:16 — Eric on balancing jiu-jitsu, pickleball, recovery, and downtime37:00 — Education, family support, and the social side of Parkinson’s38:38 — Beliefs, mindset, and defining your own story39:53 — Eric on small wins, daily resets, and moving forward About Gaia Forlani: Gaia is a neuroscientist specializing in sensorimotor, clinical, and movement neuroscience. A former professional ballerina, she brings together movement science, coaching, and performance experience in her work with people living with Parkinson’s. She is the co-founder of the Parkinson Performance Centre and creator of the Parkinson Power Protocol. Connect with Gaia: Website: http://parkinsonperformancecentre.com/LinkedIn: Gaia ForlaniInstagram: gaia.forlani.ppcFacebook: Gaia Forlani Parkinson's: An Athlete's Journey 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com 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.

    42 min
  5. Ankle Weights and Stackable Wins | Jay Freyensee

    May 6

    Ankle Weights and Stackable Wins | Jay Freyensee

    Jay Freyensee has always moved through life as an athlete. Cycling, mountain biking, martial arts, Muay Thai, cross-country skiing, running, and Spartan-style events have all shaped how he understands effort, progress, and identity. His athletic life has never been about one discipline. It has been about staying active, learning what a sport asks of him, and finding the next way to challenge himself. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in his late 40s, Jay had to rethink what it meant to stay competitive and keep trusting his body. Kickboxing remains a key part of his training because it demands power, speed, coordination, reaction, and focus in the same session. He runs with ankle weights to help reinforce his gait, keeps strength work in the week, and uses races like Spartan DECA as a reason to keep building. Jay gets into his diagnosis, adaptation, clinical trials, support groups, and the importance of finding people who understand young-onset Parkinson’s. He also shares what he would tell someone newly diagnosed: get tested, stay close to the research, keep exercising, and do not try to handle it alone. Key Takeaways ➡️ Training became the anchor after diagnosis.Exercise shifted from athletic routine to daily structure, giving him a way to stay capable, measure progress, and keep fighting back. ➡️ Adaptation became part of the athlete’s job.Jay uses tools like ankle weights, kickboxing, strength training, and Spartan DECA goals to keep challenging his body while adjusting to what Parkinson’s changes. ➡️ Community made the diagnosis easier to carry.Finding people who understood young-onset Parkinson’s gave Jay support, perspective, and a place where he did not have to explain every part of the experience. ➡️ Newly diagnosed people need action, testing, and connection.Jay encourages genetic testing, staying aware of clinical trials, continuing to exercise, and telling trusted people instead of trying to carry the diagnosis alone. Key Moments: 00:45 — Jay’s athletic background and competitive history03:30 — Training Muay Thai in Thailand07:20 — First signs of gait changes08:16 — Foot cramping during runs10:36 — Receiving the Parkinson’s diagnosis11:52 — Searching for better information after diagnosis14:34 — Jay’s weekly training routine14:55 — Running with ankle weights16:34 — Spartan DECA as a training target18:36 — Young-onset Parkinson’s and work19:00 — Hand function, typing, and career change21:52 — Navigating disability and insurance31:22 — Presence, breathing, and mindset36:52 — Clinical trials and future treatments41:28 — Genetic testing and advice for newly diagnosed people43:46 — Sharing the diagnosis with community44:46 — Parkinson’s, identity, and athletic confidence48:47 — Finding support from people who understand Connect with Jay LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-jay-freyensee-6193a7/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freyguys_redlines/ About the Hosts Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt are athletes living with Parkinson’s, sharing the day to day reality of training, adapting, and figuring it out as they go. Through honest conversations, they explore what helps, what does not, and how to keep moving forward with purpose. Follow / Connect 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com 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.

    53 min
  6. From Diagnosis to Saying It Out Loud | Jeff Martin

    Apr 29

    From Diagnosis to Saying It Out Loud | Jeff Martin

    Jeff Martin helped shape what group fitness looks like today. Over nearly five decades, he built one of the early studio environments in New York City where people trained together, showed up consistently, and stayed connected to the work. That model spread, and companies like Equinox and Crunch grew out of foundations that started in studios like his. For 47 years, Jeff has been teaching classes. Tens of thousands of sessions. Movement has been a daily part of how he lives and works. He is now sharing publicly for the first time that he has Parkinson’s. In this conversation, Jeff speaks about his diagnosis, the hesitation around saying it out loud, and what shifted once he did. He reflects on how his relationship with training has changed, why exercise has become non-negotiable, and how he is adjusting to changes that show up day to day. While his experience with Parkinson’s is still new, he is actively working through it in real time and beginning to open up to others while continuing to train. Key Moments: 00:32 — Reconnecting and Jeff’s background in NYC fitness02:18 — First public disclosure of Parkinson’s diagnosis02:47 — Early symptoms and initial misdiagnosis03:25 — Receiving the diagnosis04:26 — Hesitation around engaging with the Parkinson’s community06:13 — Humility and asking for help06:44 — Changes in daily behavior and awareness13:00 — Lifestyle shifts and consistency with exercise17:15 — Processing the diagnosis and perspective shifts19:30 — Changes in social life and routine21:08 — Decision to share publicly23:57 — Redefining strength and showing up28:58 — Managing outside advice and information32:00 — Training, coordination, and staying active36:08 — What he continues to hold onto Connect with Jeff: Website: https://jeffmartinfitness.com About the Hosts Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt are athletes living with Parkinson’s, sharing the day to day reality of training, adapting, and figuring it out as they go. Through honest conversations, they explore what helps, what does not, and how to keep moving forward with purpose. Follow / Connect 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com 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.

    40 min
  7. Stacked Days Add Up | Greg Schaefer

    Apr 15

    Stacked Days Add Up | Greg Schaefer

    Greg Schaefer is used to long races. Kona, Ironman, and years of knowing what his body could do. When that started to change, he noticed. In 2023, he was diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s. He still trains and races, but the approach is different, and some days require more adjustment than others. He speaks openly about the days when he pulls back, when patience runs thin, and when the mental side is harder than anything physical. He also talks about what helps. Structure, training partners, and having someone waiting for you at 7 a.m. so you actually show up. Greg is clear about his “why.” Being present for his wife. Setting an example for his kids. Showing them what it looks like to keep going, even when things aren’t going well. What comes through is how he keeps showing up, and how those days, one at a time, still stack up. Key Takeaways: ➡️ You can’t rely on motivation to carry you.When someone’s expecting you at a set time, you show up. That structure matters more than how you feel that day. ➡️ Your reason has to be specific.For Greg, it’s his wife and his kids, and that’s who he shows up for every day. ➡️ Some days just aren’t there.Energy, movement, focus, they don’t always line up. Learning to recognize that without turning it into failure is part of it. ➡️ Adjusting is part of staying in it.The training is still there, but the expectations shift. Showing up and finishing start to matter more than performance. ➡️ Over time, those days stack.Not every day is strong, but the consistency builds when you keep showing up across all of them. Key Moments: 01:40 — Realizing something was off during Kona preparation02:39 — Finishing Kona hours later than expected05:38 — Diagnosis in March 202309:11 — Training changes and adjusting expectations10:48 — First race back and a different experience of racing13:41 — “What you do during the calm…”16:17 — The idea of “stacked days”23:09 — Daily routine and disrupted sleep29:49 — Managing good days and bad days35:51 — Accountability and training with others37:08 — Starting the Forward Motion Fund41:08 — The role of caregivers About Greg Schaefer Greg Schaefer is a 19-time Ironman athlete, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker living with Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease. Diagnosed in 2023, Greg continues to train and compete, while managing the day-to-day realities of the condition. He shares his journey publicly and co-founded the Forward Motion Fund with his wife to support families affected by Parkinson’s and contribute to research and awareness. Connect with Greg Instagram: @gschaeferundefinedFacebook: GSchaeferDefinedLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregory-schaeferAbout the Forward Motion Fund: https://gregoryschaefer.com/forward-motion-fund/ About the Hosts Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt are athletes living with Parkinson’s, sharing the day to day reality of training, adapting, and figuring it out as they go. Through honest conversations, they explore what helps, what does not, and how to keep moving forward with purpose. Follow / Connect 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com 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.

    44 min
  8. Trying to Run Again (And Hitting the Same Wall)

    Apr 8

    Trying to Run Again (And Hitting the Same Wall)

    Eric and Todd check in on training, setbacks, and where things are at right now. Eric shares how rethinking his heart rate approach has allowed him to start pushing intensity again. Todd talks through the cycle of trying to return to running and encountering the same knee issue tied to motor control on his left side. They also touch on the early phase of Parkinson's after diagnosis, when you're still training, still functioning, and it doesn't always feel as serious as you expected. Along the way, they reflect on recent conversations with other athletes living with Parkinson’s and how similar many of those early experiences can be. Key Takeaways ➡️ You can keep pushing and get the same result every time.Trying to run again keeps ending the same way, which means something else has to change. ➡️ Early on, it doesn’t always feel as serious as you expected.When you’re still training and functioning well, it’s easy to think things might stay that way. ➡️ Physical training is only part of it.Mindset and the people around you play just as big a role as what you’re doing physically. Key Moments 00:00 – Training updates and current routines02:30 – Running setbacks and knee issues05:30 – Reflections since starting the podcast06:30 – Early diagnosis experiences08:30 – The early phase and shifting expectations10:00 – Adjusting training vs pushing through11:30 – Mental side and community About the Hosts Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt are athletes living with Parkinson’s, sharing the day to day reality of training, adapting, and figuring it out as they go. Through honest conversations, they explore what helps, what does not, and how to keep moving forward with purpose. Follow / Connect 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com 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.

    13 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

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.

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