Episode Details

Jay Freyensee has always moved through life as an athlete.

Cycling, mountain biking, martial arts, Muay Thai, cross-country skiing, running, and Spartan-style events have all shaped how he understands effort, progress, and identity. His athletic life has never been about one discipline. It has been about staying active, learning what a sport asks of him, and finding the next way to challenge himself.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in his late 40s, Jay had to rethink what it meant to stay competitive and keep trusting his body.

Kickboxing remains a key part of his training because it demands power, speed, coordination, reaction, and focus in the same session. He runs with ankle weights to help reinforce his gait, keeps strength work in the week, and uses races like Spartan DECA as a reason to keep building.

Jay gets into his diagnosis, adaptation, clinical trials, support groups, and the importance of finding people who understand young-onset Parkinson’s. He also shares what he would tell someone newly diagnosed: get tested, stay close to the research, keep exercising, and do not try to handle it alone.

Key Takeaways

➡️ Training became the anchor after diagnosis.
Exercise shifted from athletic routine to daily structure, giving him a way to stay capable, measure progress, and keep fighting back.

➡️ Adaptation became part of the athlete’s job.
Jay uses tools like ankle weights, kickboxing, strength training, and Spartan DECA goals to keep challenging his body while adjusting to what Parkinson’s changes.

➡️ Community made the diagnosis easier to carry.
Finding people who understood young-onset Parkinson’s gave Jay support, perspective, and a place where he did not have to explain every part of the experience.

➡️ Newly diagnosed people need action, testing, and connection.
Jay encourages genetic testing, staying aware of clinical trials, continuing to exercise, and telling trusted people instead of trying to carry the diagnosis alone.

Key Moments:

00:45 — Jay’s athletic background and competitive history
03:30 — Training Muay Thai in Thailand
07:20 — First signs of gait changes
08:16 — Foot cramping during runs
10:36 — Receiving the Parkinson’s diagnosis
11:52 — Searching for better information after diagnosis
14:34 — Jay’s weekly training routine
14:55 — Running with ankle weights
16:34 — Spartan DECA as a training target
18:36 — Young-onset Parkinson’s and work
19:00 — Hand function, typing, and career change
21:52 — Navigating disability and insurance
31:22 — Presence, breathing, and mindset
36:52 — Clinical trials and future treatments
41:28 — Genetic testing and advice for newly diagnosed people
43:46 — Sharing the diagnosis with community
44:46 — Parkinson’s, identity, and athletic confidence
48:47 — Finding support from people who understand

Connect with Jay

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-jay-freyensee-6193a7/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freyguys_redlines/

About the Hosts

Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt are athletes living with Parkinson’s, sharing the day to day reality of training, adapting, and figuring it out as they go. Through honest conversations, they explore what helps, what does not, and how to keep moving forward with purpose.

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