The Lyme+ Podcast

Can a tick-borne infection masquerade as a primary psychiatric condition? In this episode of the Lyme+ Podcast, host Kenzie Vath sits down with Dr. Brian Fallon, Director of Columbia University's Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Research Center and a global authority on neuropsychiatric Lyme disease.Dr. Fallon traces his pioneering work from his landmark 1994 American Journal of Psychiatry cover story to modern clinical trials at Columbia University. Discover how stealth infections trigger immune-mediated central nervous system inflammation, why standard antibiotic protocols may leave lingering cognitive deficits, and the revolutionary therapies on the horizon.In this episode, we discuss:The Neuropsychiatric Manifestation of Lyme: Why late-stage and persistent Lyme triggers brain fog, treatment-refractory depression, panic attacks, and cognitive decline.Brain Scans & Objective Proof: What SPECT scans revealed about cerebral vasculitis and how PET imaging tracks altered metabolic activity and blood flow in chronic Lyme encephalopathy.The Danish Registry Study on Suicide Risk: The alarming GLA-funded epidemiological data revealing a 75% increase in suicide and a 200% increase in suicidal behavior following Lyme disease diagnosis.Inflammatory Cytokines & Glutamate: How elevated interferon-alpha and neurotransmitter excitotoxicity impact mental health and cognitive function.Cutting-Edge Clinical Trials at Columbia: How non-invasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with cognitive training are calming inflammation and restoring brain networks.Diagnostic Gaps & Pathogen Debris: The urgent search for active-infection biomarkers and the role of persistent peptidoglycan fragments.To Learn More About the GLA Gala: https://www.globallymealliance.org/gala2026Connect & Resources Mentioned:Columbia Center: Columbia University Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Research CenterBook: Conquering Lyme Disease: Science Bridges the Great Divide by Dr. Brian A. Fallon & Dr. Jennifer SotskyOrganization: Global Lyme AllianceKeywords: Lyme disease, chronic Lyme, neuropsychiatric Lyme, Dr. Brian Fallon, Columbia University, vagus nerve stimulation, tVNS, brain fog, encephalopathy, SPECT scan, PET scan, interferon alpha, depression, mental health, Global Lyme Alliance, GLA, Lyme+ Podcast.Disclaimer: The views expressed on Lyme+ are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Lyme Alliance, Inc. or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified physician regarding any medical condition.

Why is effective Lyme disease recovery so much more than just taking an antibiotic to kill a microbe? In this episode of the Lyme+ Podcast, host Kenzie Vath sits down with Dr. Myriah Hinchey, a licensed naturopathic physician, founder of TAO Center for Vitality, Longevity & Optimal Health, co-founder of LymeCore Botanicals, and founder of Lyme Bytes.Practicing in Connecticut—ground zero for Lyme disease—Dr. Hinchey shares her integrative roadmap for treating complex vector-borne illnesses, co-infections (like Bartonella and Babesia), and environmental triggers. She breaks down her proprietary 10-B Framework, detailing why nervous system regulation, blocking inflammatory cytokines, restoring gut integrity, and supporting cellular detox must happen before you go after the bugs. Dr. Hinchey also dives into the science of botanical medicine, explaining why micro-dosing single herbs often fails and how full therapeutic, synergistic doses can transform recovery.In this episode, we cover: • Beyond "Just Lyme": Co-infections (Bartonella, Babesia), viral reactivations (EBV, HSV), mold/mycotoxins, and environmental spike protein damage. • The 10-B Treatment Framework: Background checks, Band-aids, Blocking inflammation, Buffering stress, Balancing immunity, Bolstering detox, Binding endotoxins, Blasting bugs, and Breaking down biofilms. • The Missing Link in Recovery: Why buffering the autonomic nervous system, toning the vagus nerve, and getting out of "fight or flight" is often the most overlooked barrier to healing. • Food as Medicine: Using an anti-inflammatory, polyphenol-rich, organic diet to prevent endotoxin overload and build immune resilience. • The Power of Botanical Medicine: Why trading pharmaceutical antibiotics for herbal antibiotics misses the point—and how herbs modulate inflammation, break down biofilms, and heal the gut. • Dosing & Bioavailability: Why herbal tinctures often beat capsules for bio-absorption, and why taking herbs 3x daily is essential to maintaining cellular concentration. • Neuropsychiatric Lyme in Youth: A case study of a varsity athlete misdiagnosed with primary psychiatric disease who achieved full recovery after treating underlying vector-borne infections.Connect & Resources: • Clinical Practice: TAO Center for Vitality, Longevity & Optimal Health • Herbal Medicine: LymeCore Botanicals • Education: Lyme Bytes Symposium & Podcast • Recommended Brain Retraining Programs: Primal Trust, Wired for HealingDisclaimer: The views expressed on Lyme+ are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Lyme Alliance, Inc. or its affiliates. The content is provided for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

What if diseases like Alzheimer's, interstitial cystitis, or severe asthma aren't just mysterious autoimmune failures, but are actually driven by hidden, stealth infections? In this eye-opening episode of the Lyme+ Podcast, hosts Dan and Kenzie sit down with Nikki Schultek, Principal and Founder of Intracell Research Group, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative, and Founding Director of Pathobiome Research at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM).After surviving a year of terrifying, multi-system illness—including air hunger, severe asthma, debilitating bladder pain, and neurological symptoms mimicking MS, Nikki turned to medical research to save her own life. Her late-night Google search unveiled the connection between stealth pathogens like Chlamydia pneumoniae and chronic inflammation, completely altering her life's work. Now, Nikki works alongside world-renowned scientists to pioneer diagnostic consensus protocols and research how polymicrobial "organized crime" in the body drives neurodegenerative and chronic conditions.Connect with Our Guest & Resources Mentioned:Research Initiatives: Learn more about the Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) Pathobiome Research Center.Diagnostics Mentioned: Galaxy Diagnostics (NanoTrap urine testing for Borrelia), antibody testing for Chlamydia pneumoniae.Literature Referenced:Alzheimer's & Dementia (2023) paper on infectious dementiaDr. Bernard Raxlen & Allie Cashel (Lyme Disease: Medical Myopia)Organization Highlight: International Lyme and Associated Diseases Educational Foundation (ILADEF).Don't miss an episode of the Lyme+ Podcast! Find us and subscribe on your favorite streaming platform:🎧 Spotify | 🎙️ Apple PodcastsDisclaimer: The views expressed on Lyme+ are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Lyme Alliance Inc. or its affiliates. The content is informational and not medical advice. Always consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.

Justin Carlson lived with unexplained fatigue from the time he was in school. Six years ago, everything escalated. Over a period of months he developed inflammatory and neurological symptoms severe enough to leave him bed-bound for weeks at a time, unable to drive, while every standard test came back completely normal.A urine mycotoxin test finally broke the case open. His levels were extremely high, and that result led him to mold illness, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), and the Shoemaker protocol. Living in Marquette, Michigan, in the remote Upper Peninsula, Justin had no local specialists. He pieced together his care through telemedicine with Shoemaker-certified doctors and spent over a year and a half learning his own body's limits, taking steps forward and steps back, and discovering the hard way that trying to rush recovery only made it take longer.Then he started building. First came a Discord healing community for people navigating CIRS and toxic mold exposure, which grew to over 500 members and was intentionally designed to be the opposite of the negativity that dominates so many chronic illness spaces. Then came Mold Map, a crowd-sourced platform where users rate and review hotels, apartments, and vacation rentals so people with mold illness, mast cell activation, allergies, and asthma can find safe places to stay. The MVP launched this spring, and future versions will personalize ratings to your individual sensitivity level.Justin also walks us through Mold Guide AI, a tool that predicts mold risk for nearly any address using factors like the year a building was built, flood damage likelihood, neighborhood characteristics, and local humidity. And he shares the project he once thought was impossible: Airlume, a handheld real-time mold sensor inspired by how mold detection dogs work, now the subject of an NIH SBIR Phase 1 grant proposal.Woven through it all is the mindset piece. Justin opens up about fear and distrust of his own body, how resisting symptoms kept him stuck in a defensive state, and the meditation practice that gave him relief from his fatigue within twenty minutes. Today he is biking, running, hiking the trails around Marquette, and lifting weights for the first time in 15 years.His message: it is possible to heal from virtually anything, but you have to build beliefs that run contrary to what your body is telling you, and surround yourself with people who believe it too.To find Mold Map visit: https://moldmap.io/ on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moldmap/ & Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moldmap.io/

What happens when an un-diagnosed tick-borne pathogen attacks the central nervous system? Today on Lyme+, Kenzie Bath sits down with celebrated installation artist, author, and musician Amy Stacey Curtis for one of the most raw, urgent conversations we have ever hosted.In early 2017, after completing a massive 18-year historic art opus, a switch flipped in Amy’s brain. Suddenly, she was plunged into 22 months of continuous, terrifying suicidal psychosis and a total head-to-toe loss of muscle control that confined her to a wheelchair and compromised her speech. Misdiagnosed with late-onset schizophrenia and tracked through eight heavy antipsychotic drugs, it was a dedicated primary care doctor and an open-minded specialist who finally uncovered the root cause: chronic, untreated neuroboreliosis (Lyme disease of the brain).Amy takes us through her grueling six-year physical recovery, her self-prescribed "uber-occupational therapy" using a Facebook Marketplace ukulele, and the launch of her brand new memoir, How My Brain Saved My Life Twice.Connect with Amy Stacey Curtis:Website & Book: AmyStaceyCurtis.comTikTok & Instagram: @amystaceycurtis