Functional-medicine physician Dr. Casey Kelley, MD (Case Integrative Health) joins hosts Dan Wagner and Kenzie Vath to unpack why chronic Lyme is rarely “just Lyme.” We dig into co-infections (Babesia, Bartonella), POTS/dysautonomia, mold + MCAS, nervous-system regulation, and the biggest myths about testing and treatment. Dr. Kelley explains when antibiotics vs. herbs make sense (minocycline, rifampin/rifabutin, malarone/tafenoquine, dapsone, pulsing strategies), why gut + liver support determine tolerance, and how diet (gluten/dairy/sugar), vagus nerve work, and 80/20 consistency accelerate recovery. We also cover long-COVID overlap, ILADS clinician training, and what a “medical detective” intake actually looks like.
If you or a loved one is navigating persistent Lyme symptoms, this episode offers actionable next steps, and hope.

Quick takeaways

• It’s rarely just Lyme. Co-infections, mold, and MCAS commonly overlap.

• Protocols are personalized. Antibiotics and herbs both have a place; tolerance and gut health decide the pace.

• Foundations first. Removing gluten, dairy, sugar + consistent stress regulation often unlock progress.

• Nervous system > everything. Breathwork and vagus-nerve inputs calm inflammation loops.

• Clinician training matters. ILADS offers a path for complex-illness care.

• Case Integrative Health (Chicago): discovery calls, team-based care

• ILADS: fundamentals, preceptorships, international conferences

• Groundwork for Healing (Dr. Kelley’s course): diet, sleep, stress, detox basics

• Tools: Apollo Neuro, compression, high-salt hydration (for POTS)

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Vital Plan — Restore 180 by Dr. Rawls

A six-month herbal program to support the nervous system, gut repair, and microbial balance—for those building sustainable healing, not quick fixes. Learn more at vitalplan.com.

In this episode of Lyme+, hosts Kenzie Vath and Dan Wagner sit down with writer and advocate Jennifer Crystal to explore her journey through Lyme disease and the impact her words have had on the community. From her early diagnosis and treatment choices to her ongoing role as a patient voice for the Global Lyme Alliance, Jen opens up about the challenges and resilience that define her story.

Jennifer is also the author of One Tick Stopped the Clock: A Memoir of Lyme Disease — her powerful personal story of resilience, advocacy, and hope. 📚 Order the book here

Through honesty, vulnerability, and hard-won wisdom, Jen shows how storytelling can be both a tool for healing and a beacon of hope for others still in the trenches.

• Jennifer’s history and diagnosis story (7:30)

• The reality of Herxheimer reactions (15:00)

• Why Jen chose a PICC line over oral antibiotics—and how it changed her recovery timeline (17:00)

• How her pen became a voice for the Lyme and GLA community (21:00)

• Discovering GLA and building a connection through writing (26:20)

• Where she finds inspiration for her blog posts (28:00)

• Kenzie and Jen discuss navigating PTSD as both podcast hosts and writers (34:00)

• Jen’s advice on finding LLMDs and building a care team (41:30)

• The most surprising and memorable FAQ Jen has ever received (30:00)

Through honesty, vulnerability, and hard-won wisdom, Jennifer shows how storytelling can be both a tool for healing and a beacon of hope for others still in the trenches.

This episode is made possible by ⁠Restore 180 from Vital Plan.⁠ If you're dealing with Lyme or chronic illness, you know healing isn’t a quick fix. Backed by Dr. Bill Rawls and , ⁠Restore180⁠ is a 6-month, phased program designed to restore gut health, calm your nervous system, strengthen immunity, and target the microbes driving your symptoms — all while supporting your body’s natural healing process. 👉 Learn more at: ⁠https://vitalplan.com/products/restore180⁠

This episode is made possible by Restore 180 from Vital Plan. If you're dealing with Lyme or chronic illness, you know healing isn’t a quick fix. Backed by Dr. Bill Rawls and , Restore180 is a 6-month, phased program designed to restore gut health, calm your nervous system, strengthen immunity, and target the microbes driving your symptoms — all while supporting your body’s natural healing process. 👉 Learn more at: https://vitalplan.com/products/restore180

What happens when the world of high fashion collides with the urgent need for Lyme disease awareness? Project Lab Coat is transforming the runway into a platform for Lyme disease awareness, research, and patient support.

In this episode, Dan sits down with co-host Kenzie Vath, Christina Kovacs (Runway7), Ali Moresco (Board Chair, Project Lyme), and Phyllis Bedford (Co-founder & Executive Director, Lymelight Foundation ) to discuss the vision, challenges, and hopes behind Project Lab Coat. From the spark of an idea to its debut on the NYFW platform, they share how this collaboration can uplift advocacy, connect communities, and drive a new era of visibility for Lyme.

Listeners will hear about:

• Why NYFW is the perfect platform to spotlight Lyme (9:40)

• The origin story of Project Lab Coat and its first conversations (13:05)

• How Project Lab Coat aims to create powerful “aha” moments of awareness (32:50)

• Why this initiative touches on every challenge Lyme patients face (42:30)

From the spark of an idea to the power of collaboration, the guests explore how fashion can drive advocacy, highlight patient stories, and create lasting impact for the Lyme community. ✨ Learn more and get involved at projectlabcoat.com

This episode is made possible by Restore180. If you're dealing with Lyme or chronic illness, you know healing isn’t a quick fix. Backed by Dr. Bill Rawls and Vital Plan, Restore180 is a 6-month, phased program designed to restore gut health, calm your nervous system, strengthen immunity, and target the microbes driving your symptoms — all while supporting your body’s natural healing process. 👉 Learn more at: https://vitalplan.com/products/restore180

In this episode of Lyme+, we sit down with the team behind Ravel Health, a groundbreaking telehealth platform built specifically for patients navigating chronic illnesses like Lyme disease, mold toxicity, MCAS, fibromyalgia, and more.

Ravel Health is on a mission to dismantle barriers in chronic care — tackling affordability, access, and the devastating impact of medical gaslighting. With a growing provider network and a powerhouse Advisory Team (including the recent addition of Dr. Bill Rawls, MD, as Chief Medical Officer), Ravel is creating a future where patients are finally heard, believed, and supported

Tune in to hear how Ravel is redefining care for the chronic illness community and building a new healthcare model from the ground up.

⏱️ Timestamps & Highlights:

• 4:00 – What is Ravel Health, and how is it different? 5:00 – Types of patients they serve: Lyme, mold, co-infections, and beyond 13:30 – Chronic illness spectrum: MCAS, fibromyalgia, mold, etc. 25:00 – The advantage of telehealth for Lyme & chronic illness patients. 37:00 – Ravel's role in research for Lyme and TBDs. 39:00 – Building a high-level treatment framework for new patients

  
  

  To learn more, visit ravel.health.

  
  

  This episode is made possible by Restore180. If you're dealing with Lyme or chronic illness, you know healing isn’t a quick fix. Backed by Dr. Bill Rawls and Vital Plan, Restore180 is a 6-month, phased program designed to restore gut health, calm your nervous system, strengthen immunity, and target the microbes driving your symptoms — all while supporting your body’s natural healing process. 👉 Learn more at vitalplan.com/restore180

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In the final installment of our 3-part series with integrative physician and Vital Plan founder Dr. Bill Rawls, we go deeper into the real-world challenges- and potential- of healing Lyme and chronic illness.

From what's missing in modern healthcare to how the supplement industry often misleads consumers, Dr. Rawls brings both honesty and hope to this wide-ranging conversation. He breaks down how Restore180’s final phase is designed to help the body rebuild, not just recover, and why truly helping patients means addressing root causes—not symptoms.

In this episode, Dr. Rawls and Kenzie discuss:

• What’s missing in the traditional healthcare model for chronic illness (3:50); The history and potential limitations of antibiotics in treating Lyme (14:30); How to be a smart supplement consumer: sourcing, transparency, and safety (22:00); What separates Vital Plan’s approach to herbal medicine (26:00); Dr. Rawls' end goal: a healthcare system that actually helps patients get well (37:00)

  This episode is made possible by Restore180. If you're dealing with Lyme or chronic illness, you know healing isn’t a quick fix. Backed by Dr. Bill Rawls and Vital Plan, Restore180 is a 6-month, phased program designed to restore gut health, calm your nervous system, strengthen immunity, and target the microbes driving your symptoms — all while supporting your body’s natural healing process. 👉 Learn more at⁠ vitalplan.com/restore180

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Bill Rawls, we explore the herbal protocols and philosophies that shaped Vital Plan and Restore180. Dr. Rawls shares how chronic illness changed the course of his life and how herbs became the foundation of his personal recovery—and his mission to help others. From nervous system regulation to detox strategies and sauna routines, this episode is full of practical, empowering insights for anyone navigating chronic Lyme or other complex illnesses.

This episode is made possible by Restore180. If you're dealing with Lyme or chronic illness, you know healing isn’t a quick fix. Backed by Dr. Bill Rawls and Vital Plan, Restore180 is a 6-month, phased program designed to restore gut health, calm your nervous system, strengthen immunity, and target the microbes driving your symptoms — all while supporting your body’s natural healing process. 👉 Learn more at vitalplan.com/restore180

In Episode 14 of Lyme+, we kick off a powerful three-part series with Dr. Bill Rawls—renowned integrative physician, bestselling author, and founder of Vital Plan. Dr. Rawls opens up about his personal journey from chronic illness to recovery and the pivotal shift that led him to embrace herbal therapies and holistic healing for Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

In this episode, Dr. Rawls and Kenzie explore:

• His passion for surfing and kite surfing (0:14)

• How Lyme microbes operate in the body and why they’re so disruptive (19:00)

• The potential of chronic Lyme to unlock insights into all chronic illness (21:00)

• Why Lyme research remains dramatically underfunded (26:00)

• What needs to change to better support doctors treating Lyme patients (26:55)

• Kenzie’s personal advice for those in the trenches (32:30)

• An introduction to Vital Plan and its role in Dr. Rawls’ healing approach (38:30)

• His "recipe for health"—the core elements that helped him truly recover (46:20)

This episode is packed with hope, science, and practical guidance for anyone on the path to wellness.

This episode is made possible by Restore180. If you're dealing with Lyme or chronic illness, you know healing isn’t a quick fix. Backed by Dr. Bill Rawls and Vital Plan, Restore180 is a 6-month, phased program designed to restore gut health, calm your nervous system, strengthen immunity, and target the microbes driving your symptoms — all while supporting your body’s natural healing process. 👉 Learn more at ⁠vitalplan.com/restore180⁠

Kristen Harris has a big job to do... At the Global Lyme Alliance, the focus is driving research and investing in and guiding our grantees in whatever capacity we are able. But so much of the work is informed and inspired by the patient community. To wit, GLA offers a suite of patient focused services, including a peer-to-peer program in which mentors and mentees are matched. Kristen Harris spearheads this bedrock program. She is joined by Arianna Cavallino is a PCN and success story from this mentorship program.

Arianna and Kristen both share their backstory, their "welcome to Lyme" moments, and the work that they do. If you are interested in participating in this vital program as a mentor, or are seeking guidance and support as a mentee, you can learn more and apply here: https://peertopeer.globallymealliance.org/

Dr. Keith Berkowitz joins Kenzie and Dan for a deep dive into the overlapping worlds of chronic Lyme and Long COVID. In this episode, they explore how fasting, glucose regulation, mitochondrial support, and cortisol management play roles in chronic illness recovery.

Dr. Berkowitz also breaks down the MTHFR mutation, MCAS, and the importance of being your own health advocate. From misunderstood inflammation markers to personalized treatment approaches, this conversation sheds light on the complexities of post-infectious disease care and the need for individualized healing paths.

The deck, "How to Approach Long Covid and Vaccine Injured Patients" can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/11U7ZxgotsHviIbE83Br_Wn3EXM4xG4oq

Dr. Keith Berkowtiz can be found at the Center for Balanced Health in NYC: www.centerforbalancedhealth.com

To learn more about his practice, reach out to Center for Balanced Health @ 212-459-1700 or [email protected]