“I plan to row till my last breath” is a strong endorsement for any sport. Yet we heard this sentiment numerous times at the 2022 Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR), the rowing world’s premier event.  The resulting episode features three remarkable protagonists:  Jules from Portland, Oregon, was introduced to rowing twenty years ago as she battled a recurrence of cancer.  Ping, a traditional Chinese medical doctor, overcame acute knee injuries to return to this year’s event.  And Ron, paralyzed from a car accident while cycling, was initially anxious to get on the water while tightly strapped into a rowing seat. (Sure enough, Ron’s boat did capsize his first time out.) Tune in for three odysseys on the rewards and challenges of rowing and learn more about this sport of a lifetime that instills many more thousands of rowers around the world with the goal of participating at the Head of the Charles – the sport’s annual celebration of competition, teamwork, and community.  Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney SHOW NOTES Experts: Dr. Kristine Karlson, MD: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Section Chief, Family Medicine; Director, Sports Concussion Program; Associate Professor of Community and Family Medicine, Associate Professor of Orthopaedics, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Doctor Chases Her Olympic Dream: Crew: Kris Karlson finished medical school and still kept up with her training as a rower.  Kristine Karlson Olympic Results 1992  Publications: Rib Stress Fractures in Elite Rowers  Rowing: Sport-Specific Concerns for the Team Physician  Dr. Lisa Russell Lowe, DPT PowerHousePhysio  Dr. Russell Lowe’s blog @powerhousephy Resources: Head of the Charles Regatta Adaptive Para Rowing U.S. Adaptive Programs - USRowing  Science of Rowing More at www.mybodyodyssey.com Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss an episode! And follow us on: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast

Generational Gene may seem a special case; a middle-aged school superintendent with a father and grandfather who’ve contracted Type 2 diabetes, Gene is at high risk to develop the condition.   But Gene is like a huge percentage of North Americans over the age of 40 who, because of elevated blood sugar, are at risk for diabetes and cancer. In this episode, we learn how he’s taken on this challenge.  “I really do see the relationship between exercise and prolonging my life as a parent,” Gene confides, having become an avid cyclist.  Expert commentary here comes from two respected authorities, Drs. Michael Riddell of York University and Sheri Colberg, author of a dozen books on the subject, both of whom have Type 1 diabetes.  Gene credits his Dad for instilling an early love of cycling that he hopes to pass onto his own daughter. Tune in to find out how Gene’s working to avoid one other family tendency - the development of Type 2 diabetes.  SHOW NOTES Experts: Dr. Sheri Colberg, PhD: Website, Google Scholar, Twitter, Books Diabetes Motion Relevant Publications The Athlete’s Guide to Diabetes Diabetes and Keeping Fit for Dummies Exercise/Physical Activity in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Consensus Statement from the American College of Sports Medicine Physical Activity/Exercise and Diabetes: A Position Statement of the American Diabetes Association Dr. Michael Riddell, PhD: Faculty Page, Twitter, Google Scholar Dr. Riddell’s laboratory Relevant Publications Exercise management in type 1 diabetes: a consensus statement A Brief Review on the Evolution of Technology in Exercise and Sport in Type 1 Diabetes: Past, Present, and Future Resources: Tour De Cure New England Diabetes Stats - CDC Cost Impact of Diabetes - CDC American Diabetes Association Do I Have Prediabetes? Prediabetes and What it Means: The Epidemiological Evidence More at www.mybodyodyssey.com Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss an episode! And follow us on: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast

We all know we should be more active. But life does have a way of getting in the way.  My Body Odyssey chronicles the rewards and challenges of individuals pursuing active lifestyles despite chronic illness, recurrent injury, behavioral issues and more.  We follow our “protagonists” over months and seasons and years as they pursue their favorite sports and activities against considerable odds.  And we feature expert commentary from respected MDs, nurses, researchers, psychologists, physical therapists, and others experienced in the study and practice of exercise as medicine. Such as the Neurosurgeon Dr. Mohamad Bydon of The Mayo Clinic and Exercise Oncologist Dr. Kathryn Schmitz of the University of Pittsburgh. Striving to reap the rewards of a more active lifestyle but colliding with some serious challenges? Tune in for some inspiration and information toward better overall health and wellness.  My Body Odyssey is a Fluent Knowledge production.  Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney. Be sure to Follow/Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Find us online at www.mybodyodyssey.com Drop us a line at [email protected] And follow us on social media: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast

Howie has been an avid cyclist most of his adult life, with mileage equivalent to a few laps around the planet. But more remarkable is that he has done a good bit of that cycling with cancer – in fact, through six cases of lymphoma.  Howie credits cancer therapies for surviving this odyssey but is quick to add that cycling has contributed, too. “Because of all the riding I do,” he says, “they’re able to hit me harder with chemo, with radiation, when they have to.” Exercise oncologist Dr. Katie Schmitz (University of Pittsburgh) concurs.  “Think about a little old lady, 85 years old, weighs 90 pounds soaking wet,” says Dr. Schmitz. “Then think about a regular cyclist – you are able to hit the one who has more muscle harder, which is treating the tumor better. “ Need to change gears on your commitment to exercise? Listen in for some inspiration from Cyclist for Life Howie.  Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney   SHOW NOTES Expert Guests: Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH:  UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Moving Through Cancer Formerly: Penn State Cancer Institute Leading researcher in exercise oncology Notable Publications:  Moving through cancer: Setting the agenda to make exercise standard in oncology practice American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable Report on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Cancer Prevention and Control Articles of Interest: Annals of Oncology: Risk for second malignancies in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivors: a meta-analysis Annals of Oncology: I. Epidemiology of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma NYT: What to Know About Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma The Atlantic: I’LL TELL YOU THE SECRET OF CANCER Resources: What is Cancer? Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma Cancer Data and Statistics Leading Causes of Death in the US Chemotherapy: R-CHOP The New England Classic Pan-Mass Challenge The Bon Ton Rulet More at www.mybodyodyssey.com Follow us on: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast Subscribe!

Six months ago, Josie was bedridden with a flare-up of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) she's been battling for the past decade, alongside her husband, Joe, and some help from their much loved custom tandem bike. Over that same period, Josie and Joe have logged over 10,000 miles and raised $100,000 for research into MS, a disorder where the immune system attacks the nervous system.   But would her latest flare-up permanently sideline this avid cycling couple? “When this happened, I could not move a muscle,” recalls Josie.  “And when you were flat on your back and said you wanted to bike again,” recalls Joe, “I was skeptical… but hopeful.” Six months later, we cycled next to their tandem bike and heard about that uphill journey back from her flare-up, along with the ups and downs since our first interview at the National MS Society Bike Maine Getaway in 2019.  Expert commentary is provided from Dr. Mary A. O’Neal, Director of the Women’s Neurology Program at Brigham & Women’s Hospital (Boston), and Dr. Jacob Meyer of Iowa State, both suggesting we broaden our understanding of the benefits of physical activity to include improved mood and motivation.   Listen in for an informative, inspiring story of perseverance and teamwork against the steep challenge of MS.  My Body Odyssey is a Fluent Knowledge production. Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney. What's your body odyssey? Let us know: https://fluentknowledge.com/contact SHOW NOTES Expert Guests: Mary A. O’Neal, MD: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Director of Women’s Neurology Program  Notable Publications:  A Review of Women's Neurology Neurologic diseases in women: Five new things Jacob Meyer, PhD: Wellbeing and Exercise Lab, Twitter Principal Investigator of the WellEx lab at Iowa State University Expert on the neurobiological effects of exercise on depression Notable Publications: Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior in response to COVID-19 and their associations with mental health in 3052 US adults Association of efficacy of resistance exercise training with depressive symptoms: meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of randomized clinical trials Resources What is Multiple Sclerosis?  National MS Society Da Vinci Tandem Bikes Bike MS: Bike Maine Getaway 2022 The prevalence of MS in the United States What Causes MS? Find Support More at www.mybodyodyssey.com Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss an episode! And follow us on: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast

Jessica is a respected yoga teacher–young, fit, doing the right things to stay healthy. She’s also highly knowledgeable about anatomy, with two graduate degrees. But a series of episodes involving circulation to one arm lead her to urgent care and a diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, or TOS.  Her surgeon soon recommends the standard solution for TOS–removal of her top rib. This will relieve compression between her rib and clavicle that pinches a vein and triggers dangerous blood clots.   “Given my yoga philosophy, I was definitely not keen on having that first rib removed,” recalls Jessica. “But my thoracic surgeon, he was really great, actually. He said, ‘I'm okay with you trying to figure things out.’” Two years later, has Jess figured out her TOS? Listen in for a body odyssey of the unexpected sort, when an otherwise healthy yogi grapples with a life-threatening condition through her knowledge of anatomy and experience with movement.  Subscribe to MBO so you don’t miss an episode! SHOW NOTES: Expert Guest: Dr. Jon O. Wee, MD: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Section Chief, Esophageal Surgery Director of Robotics in Thoracic Surgery Co-Director of Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School Resources What is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome? Anatomy and Embryology of the Thoracic Outlet Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Biomechanical and Exercise Considerations Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in the Overhead Athlete Blood Clots: Risks, Symptoms, Treatments, Prevention Anticoagulant (Blood Thinners) Eastern and Western Approaches to Medicine Stephen Strasburg gave his body to baseball. Now his future is a mystery. Washington Post. Matt Harvey (pitcher, Baltimore Orioles)   More at www.mybodyodyssey.com  Follow us on: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney

"Pregnancy is no joke," Erin tells us in this body odyssey that's both deeply personal and all-too-common. Having been on bed rest with preeclampsia, Erin confides, “I wasn’t good at being pregnant.” Weight gain and postpartum depression --a condition affecting 1 in 8 new moms-- made matters worse.  But when a close friend and fellow high school teacher tells Erin that running might help her behavioral and physical challenges, she (begrudgingly) starts training for a marathon.  “Each person needs a plan that is well suited for that personality and for their functioning level,” advises Dr. “Shosh” Bennett, a clinical psychologist who has personally struggled with postpartum. “The take-home message shouldn't be: I have to run a marathon in order to beat postpartum depression. It should be: Find something that's going to give them great satisfaction.” Does Mom-on-the-Run Erin find that satisfaction on a 26.2-mile run? Listen in to see how putting in extra miles helps her kids, her partner and herself.  Original Music by Ryan Adair Rooney SHOW NOTES Expert: Dr. Shoshana Bennett, PhD  Internationally recognized as the go-to expert on prenatal and postpartum depression and related mood and anxiety disorders, clinical psychologist Dr. Shoshana Bennett has inspired and transformed countless lives worldwide through her radio shows, books, lectures, interactive tele-classes, consultations, and videos. Books: Postpartum Depression For Dummies (2006) Beyond the Blues (2019) Links: Postpartum Action Institute Postpartum Support International Postpartum depression | Office on Women's Health  Ko JY, Rockhill KM, Tong VT, Morrow B, Farr SL. Trends in Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: 27 States, 2004, 2008, and 2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017; 66:153–158. Postpartum Depression: What You Need to Know (Mayo Clinic)  More resources at www.mybodyodyssey.com Follow/Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss an episode! And follow us on: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast

How do we know when to push through pain to pursue the activities we love? And when should we suspect that injuries are part of a disease process?  In this episode we meet Doc Sarah, a pediatrician, mother of four, and avid runner bedeviled by these questions. “I had gone for 30 years with no injuries,” Sarah recalls. “Then all of a sudden I've got IT band, plantar fasciitis, I’m tearing my hamstrings.” This odyssey highlights the challenge of diagnosis even for an experienced Doc like Sarah and confirmed by Divya Muthappa, a General Practitioner in Texas.  “There are patients that I am just 99% sure that I know what their diagnosis is,” confides Dr. Muthappa. “And it ends up being something else.”  While Dr. Jeffrey Sparks, a rheumatologist at Brigham & Women's, notes that Sarah’s ordeal is by no means atypical.  Tune in for an odyssey of self-diagnosis and self-discovery as Doc Sarah emerges a better listener to her patients and to her own body’s aches and pains.  Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney Show Notes Our Experts: Dr. Jeffrey Sparks Brigham & Women's, Twitter, Google Scholar Dr. Divya Muthappa Profile in MD Monthly, Founder of Health Choice Clinic Additional Resources What Is Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)?  National Psoriasis Foundation Arthritis Foundation Living With Psoriatic Arthritis American College of Rheumatology Rheumatology Research Foundation   Pumpkinman Triathlon & Running Festival Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Find us online at www.mybodyodyssey.com And follow us on: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast

Iron Woman Diane has completed three full Ironman triathlons, numerous marathons and many cycling events, such as the New England Tour De Cure where My Body Odyssey first met her.  One day, though, Diane drinks some juice before a yoga class and “next thing you know I’m inside an ambulance.” Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is a balancing act for many millions of Americans with diabetes, especially those with Type 1 or juvenile diabetes, like Diane.   This episode features expert commentary from Dr. Michael Riddell of York University, one of the world's true experts on diabetes and exercise, who also advises world class athletes like the NHL’s Max Domi on diabetes management.   If Maxi Domi routinely handles the intensity of pro hockey shifts, and Diane has conquered 13-hour triathlons, how did a simple yoga class land her in the emergency room?  Listen in to find out on “Iron Woman Diane: The Rewards & Challenges of Exercise With Diabetes,” the second full episode of My Body Odyssey, a Fluent Knowledge production.  Show Notes Our Experts: Dr. Michael Riddell, PhD: Faculty Page, Twitter, Google Scholar Dr. Riddell’s laboratory Relevant Publications Exercise management in type 1 diabetes: a consensus statement A Brief Review on the Evolution of Technology in Exercise and Sport in Type 1 Diabetes: Past, Present, and Future More Resources: Diabetes Stats - CDC Cost Impact of Diabetes - CDC American Diabetes Association What is an Insulin Pump? American Cancer Society Tour De Cure New England Want to run an Ironman race?  Why Coronavirus Is Dangerous For Diabetics Boston Marathon 2022 Yoga With Tim: The Total Body Yoga Workout Challenge Day 1 | Full Body Flow Max Domi Talks Living With Type 1 Diabetes Homepage: www.mybodyodyssey.com Follow us on: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast

In My Body Odyssey’s (MBO) first episode, we meet Ultimate Mark – uber-competitive weekend warrior in Ultimate Disc: “If it hurts me but helps the team, it's worth it in my mind.” Problem is Ultimate Mark has a fully-fused spine dating back to scoliosis in high school. And that lack of flexibility, along with his competitive spirit, puts him at risk for frequent injuries and another surgery.  “There’s something called adjacent segment disease,” explains Mayo Clinic Neurosurgeon Mohamad Bydon. “It's not inforeseeable…a decision will have to be made on extending that fusion.” Dr. Mark Stoutenberg of Temple University also sounds a cautionary note on competing with a fused spine: “I don't think our younger selves really understand what being fifty and having chronic back pain is like.”  Does Ultimate Mark love competition too much? Listen in to learn about Mark’s tradeoff of physical pain for behavioral benefit on this first episode of My Body Odyssey.  SHOW NOTES Our Experts: Dr. Mohamad Bydon, M.D: Faculty Page, Linkedin, Google Scholar Relevant Publication: Lumbar Fusion Versus Nonoperative Management for Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain Meet Dr. Bydon video Dr. Mark Stoutenberg PhD: Faculty Page, Linkedin, Google Scholar Relevant Publication: Physical activity assessment, prescription and referral in US healthcare: How do we make this a standard of clinical practice? Additional Resources Exercise is Medicine  UCSF Health about spinal fusion surgery  American Ultimate Disk League Boston Ultimate Disk Invite 2022 Neon Bending Video What is Disk Golf? Find us online at www.mybodyodyssey.com And follow us on: Twitter: @mybodyodyssey Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod Instagram: @mybodyodysseypodcast