Tick Boot Camp

Episode 212: Instinctive & Intelligent - an interview with Tiara Smith

Ms. Smith overcame sexually transmitted Lyme disease using Dr. Rawls' Restore Kit and other herbal remedies

Tiara Smith is a 27-year-old financial industry marketing specialist from Kansas who was introduced to Lyme disease by a spouse suffering from the chronic disease.

Inspired to assist her wife overcome the illness, Ms. Smith joined Lyme groups and studied the work of Dr Bill Rawls and herbalist Stephen Buhner. As she witnessed her spouse go “through hell on antibiotics,” she searched for a sustainable treatment protocol.

Over time, Ms. Smith grew increasingly concerned that she could contract Lyme through intimate contact with her spouse. She discussed her concerns with a medical doctor and was advised that she should abandon her concerns about sexual transmission.

Despite taking steps to protect against intimate transmission, she began to exhibit symptoms that mirrored those of her spouse. Her first doctor refused to clinically diagnose and treat her classic Lyme symptoms because a blood test disclosed only a single positive Lyme band.

Undeterred by the failures of traditional medicine, Ms. Smith began to treat Lyme disease by utilizing the Dr. Rawls Vital Plan Restore kit with some additional herbal add-ons. She grew to believe that the only way to regain her health was to “become her own herbalist.”

If you would like to learn more about how herbal tools were used to defeat sexually transmitted Lyme disease, then tune in now!

Episode 211: Ergo Hemp Co - an interview with Meghan Ward

Ms. Ward opened a CBD company to share the gamechanger tool she discovered on her Lyme journey

Megan Ward is the 30-year-old founder and CEO of Ergo Hemp Co., a health and wellness company established to provide the community with reputably sourced CBD products.

Ms. Ward grew up in the heart of the Long Island, New York Lyme belt. Her environmentally aware parents and grandparent taught her to conduct regular tick checks, often resulting in finding biting ticks on her body.

By the age of 8, she had suffered from classic Lyme disease symptoms including fatigue, brain fog, and joint pains that regularly disturbed her sleep. Her symptoms resulted in Ms. Ward “continuously seeing [her] pediatrician” who diagnosed her with “growing pains.”

Her “growing pains” followed her to college where a Lyme literate classmate recognized that she was suffering from Lyme disease. Ms. Ward then visited a doctor and tested positive for Lyme.

Following her diagnosis, Ms. Ward located and treated with one of the top Lyme Literate Doctors in the US who treated her with a combination of antibiotics. She also utilized herbs, prebiotics, probiotics, dietary changes and the “game changing” CBD.

The positive health results she achieved utilizing CBD inspired Ms. Ward to study the endocannabinoid system and the beneficial impacts of cannabis products. She then founded a company to “educate consumers about the amazing benefits of cannabis and provide high-quality CBD products.”

If you would like to learn more about how Lyme disease motivated the creation of a health and wellness company, then tune in now!

Episode 210: Top Gun - an interview with Colonel Nicole Malachowski

America's first female Thunderbird pilot combats Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses

Colonel Nicole Malachowski is a nationally recognized fighter pilot and military commander. Her 21-year military career included flying 26 combat missions, serving as the first female Thunderbird pilot, serving as a White House Fellow in the administrations of Presidents Bush and Obama, and commanding the 333rd Fighter Squadron at Seymour Air Force Base in North Carolina. Colonel Malachowski is a member of the National Women’s Hall of Fame and is the recipient of 11 Air Force medals including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

As commander of the 333rd Fighter Squadron, she participated in outdoor training “without taking precautions for preventing insect bites.” Upon returning from training, she visited military doctors to be treated for “flu like symptoms” and an “EM rash.” The doctor diagnosed her rash as a spider bite “because [they] don’t have Lyme in North Carolina.”

Shortly thereafter, Colonel Malachowski was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island and discovered an engorged tick on her leg. Her military doctors warned her to “watch for a rash,” which never appeared. Three months later she tested IgM positive for Lyme disease and was prescribed 28 days of antibiotics.

Colonel Malachowski’s health quickly declined over the course of the 3 years following her 2nd tick bite. She became wheelchair bound despite treating with 24 military and civilian doctors. She was finally “fully diagnosed” after she was granted permission to treat at the civilian Dean Center for Tick Borne Illness – Spaulding Rehabilitation Network.

Unfortunately, the late-stage diagnosis and treatment were too late to preserve Colonel Malachowski’s military career. She was forced to retire in 2017 because she contracted “tick-borne illnesses.” Today, Colonel Malachowski is a public speaker and patient advocate for people suffering from tick-borne illnesses.

If you would like to learn more about how a fighter pilot is using her military education, experience and training to win the battle with Lyme disease, then tune in now!

Episode 209: Pivoting in Life & Lyme - an interview with Marta Edmisten

Advocating before the HHS Tick-Borne Disease Working Group forged a friendship between Lyme Warriors Marta Edmisten and Meghan Bradshaw

Martha Edmister is a multi-talented 47-year-old artist, entrepreneur, and mental health coach from Baltimore Maryland. Her health journey began after suffering a childhood tick bite, 2 years before Borrelia Burgdorferi was identified as the bacterial cause of Lyme.

Shortly after her childhood tick bite, she developed health issues that were followed for 14 months by the head of endocrinology at DC’s Children’s Hospital. For the next 40 years she battled mental and physical illnesses resulting in multiple hospitalizations.

Prior to securing a Lyme Disease diagnosis, she was medicated for serious mental illness and her physical symptoms digressed to a point where she lost her vision, lost the ability to work, and suffered incontinence.

At the age of 41, Ms. Edmister tested CDC positive for Lyme Disease by a doctor utilizing the two-tier Elisa/Western blot tests. The positive diagnosis liberated her from years of mental health medication and launched a healing journey. Her diverse treatment protocols included two trips to the German Klinik St. George and the Dean Center for Tick Borne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

On August 24, 2021, Ms. Edmister officially joined the ranks of nationally recognized Lyme disease activists by testifying before the Federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group.

If you would like to learn more about how Lyme disease taught an artist and activist the importance of pivoting in life and Lyme, then tune in now!

Episode 208: Resourceful Healing - an interview with Nora Claire

Ms. Claire used a wide variety of non-traditional treatment modalities to heal from chronic Lyme disease, parasites, candida, and heavy metals

Nora Claire is a 30-year-old entrepreneur from Denver Colorado. Her Lyme disease journey began immediately after being bit by a tick when she was 17 years old.

Ms. Claire developed a summer flu within a few days of her tick bite but didn’t connect it with the tick bite because she didn’t notice a rash. A few months later, she developed fatigue, joint pain, depression, and anxiety.

Ms. Claire’s symptoms began to progress throughout the next four years while at college and included unusual brain fog and food intolerances. After college, her existing symptoms worsened, and she developed even more symptoms like extreme body pain and inflammation. As a result, doctors prescribed medication for her symptoms without digging deeper to find the root cause.

Ms. Claire sought the assistance of a Chinese medicine practitioner who diagnosed her with a thyroid problem and also performed a cupping session. Afterwards, Ms. Claire had an emotional release which caused her to have the realization of “I have Lyme disease.”

Shortly after, Ms. Claire was diagnosed by a naturopath in Beverly Hills using a non-traditional testing technique involving electrodes. Ms. Claire’s treatment regimen included a toolbox loaded with natural medicine and even a treatment never before discussed on the Tick Boot Camp Podcast!

If you would like to learn more about how a brilliant young woman leaned into natural and holistic medicine to heal from chronic Lyme disease, then tune in now!

Episode 207: Flores Lane - an interview with Trish Baden

Ms. Baden went from being bedbound and given her last rights to flourishing and running a successful company which employs fellow Lyme Warriors

Tricia “Trish” Baden is the 33-year-old Candle Scientist behind Flores Lane from West Hollywood, California. Her Lyme disease journey began while on a cabin trip with her ex-boyfriend and his family to Northern Wisconsin when she was 23 years old.

Ms. Baden became immediately ill during the last day of her trip with a sore throat, bump on the back of her head, and a fever. Her symptoms progressed and she developed neurological problems in addition to various other symptoms from head-to-toe.

Ms. Baden kept fighting for her health and was misdiagnosed with early on-set Parkinson's disease and depression. She knew deep down that there was more to the story.

Over a year later, Ms. Baden was diagnosed with stage 4 neurological Lyme disease, Babesia, and Bartonella after seeing almost 30 different doctors. She has used a wide variety of treatments and is

If you would like to learn more about how a curious scientist used her God-given talents to overcome medical incompetence and use what she learned to become the founder/CEO of Flores Lane, then tune in now!

PS Ali Moresco special guest co-hosted this interview with Matt from Tick Boot Camp!

Episode 206: I Lift as I Climb in Support of the Global Lyme Alliance Gala

The best financial investment in the history of Lyme disease

The Tick Boot Camp community has partnered with Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) Ambassadors Ali Moresco and Meghan Bradshaw to host a free virtual kick-off party and donation drive.

On Sunday, October 3, 2021, the GLA Global Gala watch-party will be preceded by a Tick Boot Camp kick-off party. You are invited to join the party at 11:30 am EST via Zoom at Tickbootcamp.com/GLA.

You are also invited to shorten your healing journey and at the same time help the entire Lyme community by making a tax-deductible donation to the Global Lyme Alliance. If you make a $50 donation to the GLA, you will receive unlimited access to courses designed by the top Lyme health entrepreneurs in the world, valued in excess of $600 (For those of us that are poor at math, that is an immediate return on investment of more than 10 to 1).

The Lyme disease healing package of programs you will receive are as follows:

The 5 Steps to Manifesting Course E-Course ($49 value) - created by fellow Lyme advocate, Inner Glow Circle's CEO, and author Katie Depaola

Hack Your Mind: Hack Your Life E-Course ($297 value) - created by fellow Lyme advocate, doctor, and author Doctor Diane Mueller from Medicine With Heart

LymeEd: The Complete Guide for Adopting an Integrative Approach to Chronic Lyme Disease E-Course ($197 value) - created by Lyme advocate, doctor, and author Doctor Nicola Ducharme from Restore Medicine

The Lyme Diet: Nutritional Strategies for Healing Lyme Disease E-Book ($30 value) - created by Lyme advocate, doctor, and author Doctor Nicola Ducharme from Restore Medicine

The Lyme Ease Mindset Journal ($17 value) - created by Lyme advocate, author, and health coach Jenn Hyla

Episode 205: Medical Intuitive - an interview with Katie Beecher

Katie Beecher is a 55-year-old peer reviewed and verified Medical and Emotional Intuitive and Licensed Professional Counselor from Jacksonville, Florida. Her work has been featured on Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, Kourtney Kardashian’s Poosh and many other media outlets.

Ms. Beecher’s Lyme disease journey began during her childhood, but was not diagnosed until approximately 8 years ago. She suffered a lifetime of classic Lyme disease symptoms that included joint inflammation, facial paralysis, GI issues, fatigue, brain fog, and migrating mental health issues.

While working with patients diagnosed with Lyme disease, she noticed that her lifelong symptoms closely mirrored their Lyme symptoms. The pattern recognition caused Ms. Beecher to seek medical treatment from a Naturopathic Doctor. Utilizing energy and blood testing, the doctor substantiated a Lyme disease diagnosis.

The diagnosis delayed by decades granted Ms. Beecher and her doctor the opportunity to banish the symptoms she had intuitively managed and treated through naturopathic and spiritual self-care.

If you would like to learn more about how a Lyme disease journey stimulated a Professional Counselor to uncover her medical and emotional intuitive gifts, then tune in now!

Episode 204: Beautiful Mind - an interview with Margaux Gunning

Ms. Gunning brilliantly breaks down important complex Lyme disease concepts in a simple manner

Margaux Gunning is a 29-year-old wellness expert from San Diego, California. Her Lyme disease journey began while she was studying culinary nutrition at one of the top culinary arts programs in the United States.

For several years after graduating from college, Ms. Gunning struggled with progressive migrating health issues. Her “random” symptoms included “unmanageable foot pain” and “rashes” requiring frequent hospital admissions. During one hospitalization her pain was diagnosed as depression and bipolar disorder triggering her to scream because everything “was so out of control.”

Ms. Gunning adroitly outmaneuvered years of medical diagnostic failure. She excelled professionally and socially until she was entrapped by a doctor offering a hormone therapy. Two doses of Lupron Depot robbed her of her health, rendering her bedbound and unable to speak or toilet herself.

Desperate to reclaim her life, Ms. Gunning’s research and “gut” directed her to the famous Amen Clinic where a SPECT scan was utilized to diagnose her with Lyme disease. Locating a diagnosis allowed Ms. Gunning to work with a plethora of Lyme literate practitioners to rebuild her physical and mental health.

If you would like to learn more about how a beautiful mind rose from the ashes of medical diagnostic and treatment negligence, then tune in now!

Episode 203: Enduring Spirit - an interview with Erin Meyers

Ms. Meyers overcame 30 years of medical incompetence to secure a Lyme disease diagnosis

Erin Meyers is a 39-year-old culinary artist from Bakersfield, California. Ms. Meyers moved to California after living most of her life in the eastern US Lyme belt.

Ms. Meyers’ Lyme journey began during childhood with classic migrating symptoms that were misdiagnosed as growing pains, IBS and SIBO. Her symptoms were treated individually, not collectively, for over 30 years resulting in a delayed Lyme disease diagnosis.

Securing a diagnosis permitted Ms. Meyers to build a cookbook of medical recipes to rebuild her immune system including IV ozone, ozone saunas, acupuncture, muscle testing for herbals and energy healing.

Today, Ms. Meyers is recovering from dental cavitation surgery and preparing herself physically and emotionally for the next steps in her treatment journey.

If you would like to learn more about how a culinary artist overcame decades of medical system failure to unearth the recipe for successfully treating Lyme disease, then tune in now!

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!"