In this episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Tracey Gaslin, a dual-certified Pediatric and Family Nurse Practitioner and the CEO of the Alliance for Camp Health (ACH). Dr. Gaslin leads the Fight the Bite initiative, a national campaign designed to prevent Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses through science-based public health education.

She discusses how camps—often overlooked as public health allies—can play a critical role in early detection, prevention, and education for tick-borne disease. With over 3,500 staff trained and 25,000 kids protected, this conversation is packed with insights and action steps for caregivers, clinicians, and camp professionals alike.

• Dual-certified Pediatric and Family Nurse Practitioner
• PhD in Educational & Organizational Leadership
• CEO of Alliance for Camp Health (ACH)
• National leader in pediatric care and camp-based health safety
• Program lead for the Fight the Bite Initiative, a partnership with SC Johnson

• Why tick-borne illness prevention must start before symptoms appear
• How ACH and SC Johnson are transforming summer camps into frontline health defenders
• The science behind prevention and the blind spots in current clinical models
• How parents, educators, and camp staff can be empowered—not panicked—by prevention tools
• Real-world strategies to protect kids in outdoor settings

Together, we can reduce Lyme disease risk through community action and smart prevention. Whether you're a camp director, healthcare provider, or concerned parent, this episode will empower you to fight the bite—starting today.

In this powerful episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we welcome Austin Shubert, a 27-year-old outdoorsman, hunter, and field technician from Zebulon, Georgia. He shares his deeply personal and emotional journey from vibrant health to chronic illness and back toward recovery. Raised in the woods, surrounded by ticks since childhood, Austin never imagined that a single tick bite could change his life.

• Austin first experienced panic attacks in 9th grade, without ever knowing what they were.
• He developed intrusive thoughts and severe anxiety while unknowingly living in a mold-infested home.
• Years of symptoms like OCD, fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, weight loss, and heart palpitations left him broken and confused.

• Doctors misdiagnosed Austin with mono, anxiety, depression, and sinus infections.
• Despite clearly debilitating symptoms, he was told to “let it run its course.”
• LabCorp and Quest tests failed to detect Lyme or co-infections, leading to months of continued suffering.

• A conversation with a friend who had Lyme disease opened Austin’s eyes to the possibility of tick-borne illness.
• He discovered the Genesis Center in Georgia, led by Dr. Sloan.
• Using Vibrant and MDL Labs, he tested positive for multiple Borrelia species and Alpha-Gal Syndrome.

• Austin began treatment with SOT therapy, gut protocols, binders, methylene blue, and detox supplements.
• 3 months post-SOT, Austin is 70–75% recovered, has returned to work, and is off Prozac.
• He’s also planning to begin peptide therapy (BPC-157 and TB-500) to address lingering leg weakness.

• Austin shares how his Christian faith and relationship with God carried him through his darkest moments.
• He discusses helping his neighbor—who was also unknowingly battling Lyme—and how this has reinforced his belief that his suffering had a greater purpose.

• Lone Star ticks don’t carry Borrelia but can cause Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) and other tick-borne illnesses.
• Mold exposure and environmental toxins can drastically weaken the immune system, leading to chronic Lyme activation.
• Standard testing (LabCorp, Quest) frequently produces false negatives—specialized labs are critical.
• Early detection and spiritual resilience can significantly influence the Lyme healing journey.

• “There is purpose in your pain. God put me through this for a reason—to help others.” – Austin Shubert
• “For the first time in this journey, I felt validated. I wasn’t crazy. I had Lyme disease.” – Austin Shubert

In this powerful, long-form interview, Kristina Bauer returns to the Tick Boot Camp Podcast to share her in-depth story of surviving decades of misdiagnosed Lyme disease — from childhood illness and misdiagnoses to motherhood, advocacy, and remission.

Diagnosed at age 40 after 32 years of medical dismissal, Kristina discusses her experience with congenital Lyme disease in her four children, postpartum Lyme flares, and her commitment to raising awareness through the Texas Lyme Alliance, Center for Lyme Action, and International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Ambassadorship.

Her testimony covers essential ground: pediatric Lyme, maternal Lyme, psychiatric symptoms like Lyme rage, postpartum depression misdiagnosis, sexual transmission, and the need for insurance and diagnostic reform.

This episode is a masterclass in Lyme disease education and empowerment, especially for women, mothers, and families navigating complex Lyme journeys.

• Early Lyme Exposure: Tick bites at age 8 in Illinois and decades of misdiagnosis (juvenile arthritis, Crohn's, ulcers)
• Chronic Symptoms: Sinus infections, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), fibromyalgia, neurological and psychiatric symptoms
• Postpartum Lyme Flares: Crushing fatigue, misdiagnosed postpartum depression, and suicidal ideation risk
• Congenital Lyme Disease: How all four of her children were born with Lyme and are now in remission
• Mental Health Awareness: Lyme rage, mood swings, panic attacks, and the importance of therapy
• Tick-Borne Disease Advocacy: Legislative work in Texas, ILADS, educating OB-GYNs, and pushing for proper diagnostic protocols
• Medical System Failures: Inadequate Lyme testing, gaslighting, high insurance costs for chronic illness
• Lyme & Pregnancy Research Study: An open call for pregnant individuals diagnosed with Lyme disease during their current pregnancy, OR with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) in the past 5 years. Learn More / Apply

• IV and Oral Antibiotics (33 pills/day for 4 years)
• Ozone Sauna Therapy
• Dual Infrared Sauna
• IV Glutathione and Vitamin C
• Autologous Stem Cell Therapy

• Get tested with qualified Lyme-literate doctors (LLMDs)
• Pre-conception testing for both partners
• Consider cord blood testing for newborns (e.g., IGeneX)
• Push back against “one-dose doxycycline” treatment myths
• Advocate for maternal and congenital Lyme research funding
• Check out Kristina's Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching

• “Infection turned into action is the mindset I pass forward.”
• “A mom with Lyme can’t be left alone with crushing fatigue and a newborn — it’s not just postpartum, it’s pathology.”
• “Doxy is not a one-stop shop. One tick bite can carry 19 pathogens with 100 strains.”