In the Tall Grass

Every good story has a hero and a villain. And a solution. Dr. Bill Rawls is on a mission to get people to become the hero of their own story to reach healing. As a practicing physician, Dr. Rawls noticed that people with chronic illnesses weren’t getting well. So he is using what he learned in his own healing journey to help others own their recovery. If you’re still struggling with chronic illne...

As Founder of Bundle x Joy, a purpose-driven pet brand that focuses on allergy-friendly products, Jess Berger is on a mission to create a space where everyone is welcome. Jess recognized a need and bravely stepped out of her comfort zone to follow her passion after years in corporate America. In this episode, Jess shares her story of living her purpose, and how she’s helping others - two-legged an...

We’re sending you back to the beginning! As we get ready to expand on the work we’ve been doing for the last five years, we invite you to revisit how it all got started. Debbie and Candice went a cumulative 30 years with undiagnosed symptoms that included everything from brain fog to joint pain and GI distress. Hear about the symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome and how they finally discovered the impet...

Peyton Owen and Natalie Nichols have several things in common. They’re both young adults. They both love the outdoors. And they’re both living with AGS AND with mothers who also have AGS. In this episode, our teen contributor Peyton chats with Debbie’s daughter Natalie on what it’s like having AGS in the family and how they’re both managing AGS in high school and college. These young gals speak to...

In this conversation, Mandy Irby, Founder and CEO of The Birth Nurse, shares how she shifted the focus of her career as a labor and delivery nurse to a patient-centered, trauma-informed approach. Not only is she fostering healthy relationships and birthing experiences for expectant parents and medical professionals, but she is applying her knowledge to her own life as she navigates alpha-gal syndr...

Jump right in, mid-conversation, to our latest chat with Taylor on this Fresh Tracks episode. Our pre-recording conversation was so good, we just hit record! In this episode, we touch on everything from eating out to reactions to our main topic: Dating. Taylor dives into a different kind of in-the-wild experience as a young single trying to date with alpha-gal syndrome. You don’t want to miss this...

We are relaunching one of our favorite summertime episodes and share a quick update! A delicious summertime meal on the grill does not require steaks or burgers or any beef or pork at all. In this episode, we discuss the steps we take to grill safely with alpha-gal syndrome. We share our favorite AGS-safe grilled meals, unexpected ways to spruce up your experience, and tips for avoiding disappoint...

Eric Rhodes isn’t just a high-performing TikTok DJ. He’s also a husband, father, and authentic storyteller. Through music, Eric found inspiration and discovered a passion for igniting joy in others. In this uplifting conversation, we get an inside peek at Eric’s inventive musical mashups and how he flipped the negative narrative to forge his own path in the music industry. Eric Rhodes spun his fir...

The summer of 2022 became known as the “mystery summer” for Charles Green. After eating a cheeseburger, Charles experienced chest pain that lasted throughout the night and sent him to the ER. Tests confirmed that he in fact had a heart attack, but it would take another five months for his ongoing symptoms to be identified as alpha-gal syndrome. Tune in now to hear Charles’s incredible story, his t...

Sixteen-year old Peyton Owen has been living with alpha-gal syndrome for years. She has courageously stepped into this new journey, ready to learn without giving up all the things she loves. In this episode, Peyton shares some of her own struggles and successes as a thriving teen, as well as her own tips and tricks for how to reinvent everyday life when living with AGS. For more from Peyton, check...

Back by popular demand! This week, we are rereleasing our episode with Taylor Ernst. If you didn’t catch it the first time, you won’t want to miss it now! Taylor, an avid hunter, spent months baffled by life-threatening symptoms before finally being diagnosed with AGS. Check out his story to hear how he's coping with alpha-gal syndrome by viewing life through a new lens and using his experience to...

Since his daughter Adina experienced a terrifying allergic reaction to the inactive ingredients in medication, Seth Togal has been on a mission to change labeling laws through the ADINA Act. Once passed, the ADINA Act will require drug labels to identify major food allergens or gluten-containing grain. Tune in now to hear Seth’s story of unwavering persistence when faced with unexpected and life-t...

With a deep commitment to helping women better their lives, Ashley strives to inspire others to embrace a life of health, happiness, and self-love they deserve. In this episode, Ashley shares her own story of resilience and how that led to her passion for helping women achieve sustainable transformation- both inside and out. You won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation on fitness, setting re...

Progress can sometimes be difficult to see. In this Tick Byte episode, Candice and Debbie pause to look back at how far they have come in the last five years. Through mitigating risk with some grace and a little humor, the Gals give an inside peak into how their journey has evolved. Tune in to hear them chat about the practice it took to get to where they are now and how they harnessed resources t...

Dee Nash contracted alpha-gal syndrome in her very favorite place: her garden. But she didn't let that stop her from doing what she loves most. In this episode, Dee shares the steps she took to overcome her fear and build the courage to get back into the garden and reclaim her life. Tune in now to hear Dee's story and how she's choosing to live a life of hope. Dee Nash is an author, speaker, and g...

Sometimes, it’s hard to believe that healing is possible. But Dr. Jaban Moore refuses to accept that. After facing his own health battles, Dr. Jaban dedicated his career to restoring health through a comprehensive and multi-therapeutic approach. Tune in now to hear how Dr. Jaban turned his own struggles into a commitment to help others. Dr. Jaban Moore’s passion for restoring health through a mult...

In our new Tick Byte series, we address one common question from the community. After listening to the expert answer, we dive into a brief discussion from our own personal experiences. In this episode, we share a question that is answered by Gastroenterologist, Dr. Sarah McGill. Have you wondered, if you have IBS, should you get tested for AGS? Tune in now to hear Dr. McGill's answer and some of o...

From competitive Irish dance to soccer, rugby, ice hockey, and even Olympic weightlifting, Maeve Willis infiltrated the world of sport. But she didn’t stop there. Maeve used her extensive athletic experience to build a career in mental performance coaching. Through it all, she was unstoppable, even by traditional expectations of female athletes or her deadly food allergies. Listen now to her amazi...

This past week, we joined Sharon Forsyth, Director of the Alpha-gal Information Awareness Campaign, in Richmond, Virginia, to offer testimony as to the importance of HB93 - a bill that would add AGS to the list of conditions in the Commonwealth of Virginia required to be reported to the CDC. In this episode, Sharon breaks down the bill and why it’s important, and shares with us her own motivation...

If you’ve heard about alpha-gal syndrome on the national news, you’ve probably seen “The TickGuy,” Dr. Thomas Mather, director of The University of Rhode Island’s Center for Vector-Borne Disease and its TickEncounter Resource Center. For the last 40 years, Dr. Mather has been researching ticks, much of that time at URI reimagining tick-borne disease prevention education. In this episode, Dr. Mathe...

Celebrating the holidays with alpha-gal is not always easy. But in between the accidents and the incidents, we still try to find the joy (or at least a little humor). In this episode, we chat about our holiday experience in three parts: the good, the bad, and the funny. Tune in for a little laughter and to hear about the lessons we learned during our 4th holiday season living with AGS. Vegan Cinna...

In a world filled with ticks and other biting insects, Insect Shield can help you get back outside. We sit down with Mary Collins, VP of Business Development at Insect Shield, to learn more about what sets their EPA-registered insect repellent and apparel apart from the rest. Mary explains how Insect Shield’s technology provides effective, invisible, and odorless protection against ticks, mosquito...

In this episode of Fresh Tracks with Taylor, we dive into prepping for a trip to the backcountry. Taylor shares how AGS has changed his packing strategy, including his top tips for staying AGS-safe when hours from medical care, and Bennett offers a fresh perspective as the support person. Whether you are the outdoorsman with alpha-gal or supporting a friend in the field, this is an episode you won...

In this episode, Jason Linde, Senior VP of Advocacy at FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), shares FARE’s current initiatives to empower and enhance the lives of individuals living with allergies. Check out Jason’s personal story on what brought him into the world of advocacy, specifically for those living with food allergies, and learn steps you can take to help impact change because, in...

Have you ever wondered what it was like to travel with The Gals? Well, now is your chance! Ride along with the Two Alpha Gals as they venture out on roadtrip to the FARE Summit in Orlando, Florida. Hear the gals chat about some of the steps they took prior to leaving, the planning they did along the way, and their observations on how far they’ve come since diagnosis. Tune in for a little education...