The Lyme+ Podcast

It's the top of the new year, and it's time to set the record straight. Co-hosts Kenzie Vath and Dan Wagner sit for a one-on-one and discuss their shared health journeys, their "welcome to Lyme" experience, favorite therapies, diets, hopes, aspirations, and so much more.

Co-host Dan Wagner sits down with the founder of Foundations Wellness, Theresa Haselmayer, R.N., to discuss her journey from patient to healer. With over 33 years of varied clinical experience, Theresa trained for 4 years at the Uprooting Lyme Clinic in Hudson Valley NY, a hotbed of Lyme Disease. She is currently one of dozens of highly knowledgeable certified Uprooting Lyme practitioners nationwide. Theresa is also a member of ILADS, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, as well as ISEAI – The International Society of Environmentally Acquired Illness.

From the arrows in her quiver as a holistic practitioner, to her story of healing, Theresa story is inspiring, and full of great information.

As a young adult,  just hitting the high note of your career, being sidelined by the symptoms of Lyme and co-infections can be devastating. 

Meet JUJ Seeley. She and her best friend, music partner, and health advocate- Kiana Tebyani, compose the up-and-coming electronic/ dance tandem Z3LLA Music. Today Z3LLA is scaling up the billboard music charts at breakneck speed, delivering their unique brand of energy and feeling to the house music scene; a genre often dominated by legendary male artists, JUJ and Kiana are poised to disrupt the party. 

In the face of thrilling success and the fruition of years of hard work, JUJ is confronted by the challenges of chronic Lyme disease and co-infections, namely Bartonella. Every single day, JUJ and Kiana work overtime to support JUJ’s health, all while pouring their hearts into their music, and striving to live up to the monumental opportunity before them. Their shared journey has only deepened their gratitude, friendship and commitment to their art.

Co-Host Kenzie Vath joins Dr. Charles Chiu, a Scientific Advisory Board Member at GLA. Dr. Chiu leads a fascinating conversation that weaves through the landscape of Lyme diagnostics, and some of the fascinating work on metagenomics coming out of Dr. Chiu's lab. Dr. Chiu is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine Divergent of Infectious Disease at the University of California San Fransisco and Director of UCSF Clinical Microbiology Laboratory.

Dr. Chiu currently leads a transitional research laboratory focused on the development and clinical validation of metagenomic next generation sequencing for diagnostics of infection, outbreak investigation, and pathogen discovery.

On this episode, Kenzie sits down with none other than Lindsay Keys, filmmaker, photographer, writer and co-director of The Quiet Epidemic. The grit, perseverance, and journey it took to bring this story to life is an awe-inspiring conversation, and one we are so excited to share with you.

The Quiet Epidemic has been showcased at over 20 film festivals and gained national attention, including mentions by celebrities and features on PBS and TIME. Lindsay is now co-leading an impact campaign to use the film to advocate for Lyme disease awareness and policy change, including a congressional hearing on health agency negligence.

In the 3rd episode of Lyme+, Kenzie sits down with the incomparable Jody Hudson of the Alex Hudson Foundation. Jody shares her incredibly powerful story of a mother's love for her child, and the inspired action that ultimately came from the tragic passing of her daughter, Alex. This is a story of courage, loss, and faith, and we sincerely hope you are as moved as we are. Learn more about the Alex Hudson Foundation ⁠here

In this episode of the Lyme+ Podcast, Kenzie sits with co-founder and Executive Director of the Lymelight Foundation to discuss congenital Lyme disease. From mother to mother, what do you need to know? We dive in to Phyllis' very own story, from her experience pregnant with Lyme, to her establishment of the LymeLight foundation: a nonprofit whose mission is to advance awareness and provide grants for children and young adults to pursue Lyme disease treatment. Learn more about the Lymelight Foundation here

Welcome to the Lyme+ Podcast with hosts Kenzie Vath and Dan Wagner. Join us as we embark on a journey through the world of Lyme disease, a tapestry of patient stories, expertise, and the latest research around the enigma of Lyme disease. In our pilot episode, we discuss the organization behind Lyme+: Global Lyme Alliance, and chat with its CEO, Laura McNeill. Our discussion explores the current landscape of research, and GLA's efforts to redefine patient support through community engagement.