Before You Decide You Can't

Before You Decide You Can't

Eric and Todd are back together on the pod, catching up on everything that has changed since they last sat down. Todd has started a new full-time job, Eric has been recovering from a medical procedure, and both of them have been trying to find their footing with movement, training, and the usual unpredictability that comes with Parkinson’s. They talk about getting back into exercise, building routines that can survive real life, and Eric’s recent fishing trip to Alaska, where a little planning, a few adaptations, and support from the people around him made it possible to stay fully part of the experience. They reflect on how easily life can start to get smaller after diagnosis, and how friendship, preparation, and being willing to accept help can keep more of it open. Key Takeaways ➡️ Life can get smaller before it has to. Eric and Todd talk about how Parkinson’s can lead people to step back from plans, travel, and everyday experiences before they know what is still possible. ➡️ Adaptation keeps you in the experience. On Eric’s fishing trip to Alaska, support from family, help with the physical details, and clear expectations allowed him to stay involved instead of sitting the trip out. ➡️ Accepting help is not the same as giving up independence. The conversation explores the discomfort of relying on others and how the right support can make it possible to keep training, traveling, and participating in the parts of life that matter. Key Moments 00:00 Eric and Todd Catch Up; Moving, Recovery & Life Updates 05:41 Todd’s New Work Routine; Making Exercise Automatic 06:36 Eric Returns to the Rowing Machine After Three Months 07:50 Alaska Trip; Doubt, Balance & Showing Up Anyway 10:11 Learned Helplessness; How Life Can Start to Get Smaller 11:53 Saying Yes When Parkinson’s Makes Plans Uncertain 12:21 Asking for Help; Independence, Frustration & Daily Challenges 14:50 Travel, Medication Timing & Disrupted Routines 16:27 Adapting the Fishing Trip; Support That Keeps You Involved 17:23 Family Support; Accepting Help Without Feeling Like a Burden 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. They explore what helps, what does not, and how to keep moving forward with purpose. Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community [https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/] 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-] 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/] 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast] 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com [https://evfmethod.com/home] 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.

Pedaling 1,010 Miles to Phoenix | Rob Warner

Rob Warner’s athletic life was built one challenge at a time. First it was climbing stairs. Then Mount Whitney. Then cycling. Then triathlons. Each step gave him a new way to measure effort, build confidence, and stay connected to what his body could do. When Parkinson’s symptoms first appeared, Rob thought he was dealing with an injury from a triathlon fall. Instead, after a long diagnostic process that included an early concern about ALS, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2008. Since then, Rob has kept adapting. He has trained, raced, raised money through Parkinson’s events, gone through DBS, dealt with freezing, falls, dyskinesia, a broken back from a bike crash, and still continued looking for ways to stay active. Rob talks with Eric about family, faith, humor, cycling, the Ride to Phoenix, and why movement still matters after nearly two decades with Parkinson’s. Key Takeaways ➡️ Movement kept giving Rob a way forward. From Mount Whitney to cycling to triathlons, Rob kept finding new challenges that helped him stay connected to his body before and after diagnosis. ➡️ Adaptation is not one decision. It keeps changing. Rob has adjusted through DBS, medication changes, freezing, dyskinesia, falls, injuries, and new tools like an e-bike. The work is ongoing. ➡️ Support matters when it protects agency. Family, guides, doctors, and riding partners help Rob keep participating without turning him into someone who needs to be pitied or held back. ➡️ Community turns effort into purpose. Through fundraising, Cycling to End Parkinson’s, the Ride to Phoenix, and the World Parkinson’s Congress, Rob uses movement to connect with others and build something larger than his own diagnosis. Key Moments 0:59 Life before diagnosis; Lancaster, Edwards Air Force Base, flight test engineering 2:33 First symptoms; left pinky movement, arm swing changes, triathlon fall 3:22 Early ALS concern; waiting for answers with four young children 4:18 Parkinson’s diagnosis; relief, uncertainty, and having something concrete to face 5:05 Hiding symptoms at work; disclosure, coworkers, and relief after telling the truth 7:08 Family response; humor, support, and not being treated with pity 10:24 Athletic background; Mount Whitney, cycling, and finding triathlon 14:28 Racing with symptoms; dystonia, running backward, and adapting mid-race 18:00 Moving closer to care; family support and the realities of daily limitation 22:51 Exercise becomes advocacy; fundraising through Parkinson’s events 23:56 Choosing DBS to protect his ability to exercise 24:13 DBS experience; medication changes, tuning, and symptom relief 27:44 Parkinson’s risk; bike crash, broken back, falls, and challenging easy sayings 31:14 E-bike support; adapting tools for long-distance riding 32:25 Cycling to End Parkinson’s; Ride to Phoenix and family logistics 35:45 Riding from Salt Lake to Phoenix; trikes, heat, support, and endurance 37:33 Rock Steady Boxing, rock climbing, pickleball, and movement variety 38:53 Freezing and sport; why pickleball can feel almost normal once play begins 40:18 World Parkinson’s Congress; community, research, and being around people who understand 41:41 New infusion therapy; managing on/off time and medication delivery 45:21 Advice for the newly diagnosed; Parkinson’s is not life-ending 48:08 Movement as the message; cycling, running, swimming, boxing, jujitsu, and doing something Team Utah - Pedal for Parkinson's Facebook Page: PedalForParkinsonsUT [https://www.facebook.com/PedalForParkinsonsUT] 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 [https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/] 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-] 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/] 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast] 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com [https://evfmethod.com/home] 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.

Life Is Not a Sprint, It’s 100 Marathons | Larry Grogin

Larry Grogin is nearing the end of one of the most demanding endurance challenges imaginable: 100 marathons in 100 consecutive days. With only a few runs left, Eric catches up with Larry as he nears the end of a journey that has taken him more than 2,500 miles across the United States. What began as a challenge built around Parkinson’s, exercise, and possibility has become something more personal, more practical, and more revealing. Larry has learned what happens when the body hurts, the mind gets tired, the weather turns, and the road still has to be covered. In this conversation, Larry reflects on what the first 97 days have taught him about adaptation, support, medication, movement, and the mental tools that help him keep going. He talks about slow warm-ups, hard miles, music, nature, community, and the surprising strength that comes from doing the work day after day. Key Takeaways ➡️ Hard days connect the easy days. Larry describes the rough stretches of the challenge as temporary, not permanent. Over 97 days, he learned that the bad miles, low-energy windows, and painful moments always shifted if he kept moving. ➡️ Adaptation happens through repetition. The daily marathons forced Larry to respect slow warm-ups, listen to his body, and let his running improve through consistent use. By the end, he felt smoother, stronger, and more like a runner than when he started. ➡️ Support made the challenge possible. Larry is clear that the run was not done alone. Sponsors, drivers, family, Parkinson’s groups, and strangers across the country helped carry the effort, reminding him that accepting help is part of endurance. ➡️ The diagnosis is not the finish line. When speaking to newly diagnosed people, Larry’s message is direct: Parkinson’s changes things, but it does not mean life is over. Movement, community, and the willingness to try can still create a path forward. Key Moments 00:31 Reconnecting with Larry Grogin near the end of 100 marathons in 100 days 01:02 What the challenge taught him about pain, overuse, and time 02:03 Tough days connect the easy days 02:48 The 40% of dopamine-producing nerves still doing their job 09:34 The support team behind the run 10:31 Returning to the site of Larry’s first triathlon 12:14 Medication consistency and changes during the challenge 13:05 Why slow warm-ups became even more important 14:22 Looking stronger at the end of each marathon 15:32 Parkinson’s Warriors, Durango, and the power of community 18:42 Learning to accept help 21:45 Mental tools for hard miles: music, calls, nature, and birds 25:25 The role of rhythm, music, and running cadence 27:06 What Larry would tell someone newly diagnosed 29:25 Running for people who think they cannot 32:17 The people Larry met across the country 37:19 What Larry would tell his 2019 self 38:00 Learning that every downtime ends 39:11 What an athlete’s mindset means after Parkinson’s 41:41 “Larry is running for people who think they cannot, but they’ll try” Connect with Larry Grogin Strides for Humanity / Run Larry Run: https://dpf.org/runlarryrun [https://dpf.org/runlarryrun] IG: @runlarryrun26 [https://www.instagram.com/runlarryrun26/] Follow 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 [https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/] 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-] 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/] 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast] 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com [https://evfmethod.com/home] 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.

Find What Keeps You Moving | Ryan Cotton

Ryan Cotton has been part of Rock Steady Boxing since it was thirty boxers in an aerobics room. With more than 20 years of clinical experience and a Doctorate in Health Science, he joined as a board member before becoming Chief Scientific Officer and eventually President and CEO. When his father was diagnosed with Parkinson's, the work became personal. By then he already understood what the research said and what the gym floor proved: that people who keep moving do better, and that engaging with the disease early changes its trajectory. This episode covers what changes after a diagnosis and what helps people stay engaged in the life they still want to live. Exercise as daily medicine, building the right medical team, and the support systems that offer both understanding and accountability. Key Takeaways ➡️ Exercise is part of the treatment plan, not an optional add-on. Ryan explains why consistent, moderate-to-high intensity exercise has become central to Parkinson’s care, with benefits that can show up physically, emotionally, and neurologically. ➡️ The best exercise is the one you will keep doing. Boxing is one model, but Ryan is clear that movement can take many forms. Cycling, rowing, dancing, strength work, etc., or a mix of disciplines can all matter if they keep someone engaged. ➡️ Community turns exercise into accountability. The gym becomes more than a place to train. It becomes a place where people compare notes, check on each other, offer encouragement, and sometimes give the push someone needs to keep going. ➡️ Early action changes the experience of diagnosis. Ryan encourages newly diagnosed people to build the right team, take medication consistently, find their form of exercise, and surround themselves with support before isolation or apathy take over. Key Moments 00:33 Ryan Cotton’s background and early involvement with Rock Steady Boxing 02:33 When Parkinson’s became personal through Ryan’s father 04:44 Why Ryan became a physical therapist 06:22 How Rock Steady Boxing connected Ryan’s clinical work to Parkinson’s 08:14 PT, OT, speech therapy, neurologists, and the team approach to Parkinson’s 10:31 The “lottery no one wants to win” and the range of Parkinson’s symptoms 11:31 What newly diagnosed people should focus on first 13:52 Eric’s morning routine, mindset, breath work, and stackable wins 18:39 Ryan’s path from board member to Chief Scientific Officer to CEO 22:50 The early growth of Rock Steady Boxing 24:20 Why exercise matters so much for Parkinson’s 26:58 Physical, emotional, and neurological benefits of consistent exercise 28:29 Apathy, dopamine, and finding exercise you actually enjoy 32:07 Social and emotional transformation through Rock Steady Boxing 33:36 Accountability, support, and peer-to-peer knowledge in the gym 35:38 A retired Marine’s shift from isolation to a half marathon 38:13 Why some people become thankful for what diagnosis brought into their life 40:17 Reflections from the World Parkinson’s Congress 41:19 Scaling Rock Steady Boxing while protecting the mission 46:22 Exercise collaboration across the Parkinson’s community 49:23 Ryan’s definition of resilience Connect with Ryan LinkedIn: Ryan Cotton [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-cotton-bb54117/] Instagram: @rock_steady_boxing [https://www.instagram.com/rock_steady_boxing/] Website: www.rocksteadyboxing.org [https://rocksteadyboxing.org/] 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 [https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/] 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-] 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/] 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast] 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com [https://evfmethod.com/home] 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.

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 Protocol 03:24 What deep brain stimulation is and when it becomes an option 04:25 Seeing tremor suppressed during DBS surgery 07:42 Current treatment options and adaptive deep brain stimulation 09:06 Stem cell therapy, bemdaneprocel, and the exPDite trial 10:45 Cognitive reserve, neuroplasticity, and proactive brain health 16:04 Neuroplasticity as a double-edged sword 20:41 Feet, gait, freezing, and the brain’s body map 23:20 Balance as a neurological task: proprioception, vision, and vestibular input 27:09 Why athletic, multimodal training matters for Parkinson’s 29:42 Why Jorge started NeuroGym 32:06 Learned helplessness and the diagnosis mindset 33:42 Breath work, interoception, and progressive muscle relaxation 36:23 Rope flow, spatial awareness, proprioception, and coordination 38:25 Motor reserve and why adults need more movement variety 43:58 Self-directed neuroplasticity and living well with Parkinson’s 44:17 Group exercise, social engagement, and brain health 45:29 Jiu-jitsu, pickleball, and building motor reserve through sport 49:44 Cognitive load through memory, reaction, and coordination drills 52:43 Intensity, lactate, and the brain benefits of exercise 56:33 What newly diagnosed people should understand about adaptability 58:30 Parkinson’s as a movement disorder and why movement remains essential 59:34 How to connect with Jorge and NeuroGym Connect with Jorge LinkedIn: Jorge Quintero [https://www.linkedin.com/in/theneurogym/] Website: https://theneurogym.org [https://theneurogym.org] Instagram: @theneurogym [https://www.instagram.com/theneurogym/] YouTube: @theneurogym [https://www.youtube.com/@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 [https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/] 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-] 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/] 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast] 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com [https://evfmethod.com/home] 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.