The Gut Health Podcast

Episodios

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  The Gut–Bone Axis: How Gut Health Impacts Bone Health, Calcium Absorption & Osteoporosis (with guest Dr. Laura McCabe) 01.10.2026 51m

  Your bones aren’t stones, and osteoporosis isn’t just a calcium problem. Bone is living tissue that continuously remodels, and the signals that guide that process may start in an unexpected place: your gut. We dig into the gut–bone axis and the emerging field of osteomicrobiology with Dr. Laura McCabe. We discuss: • How bones are living tissue that continuously remodels • Osteoporosis as a common silent disease—and why fractures are often the first sign. • Osteomicrobiology and how the ...
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  Gut Health Strategies For First Responders (with guest Police Chief Michael Assad Jr.) 01.09.2026 39m

  What happens when the stress of being a first responder doesn’t just stay in your head but starts showing up in your gut? Today, we’re joined by Police Chief Michael Assad Jr. of the Rochester, Massachusetts Police Department for an honest conversation about the often-overlooked connection between first responder stress, gut health, IBS, and nutrition. From high-pressure calls and long shifts to those unexpected “code brown” moments, chronic stress can take a serious toll on the digestive sys...
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  Navigating Food Fear, Disordered Eating & Gut Issues Together (with guests Dr. Madison Simons and Janelle Smith, RDN, CEDS) 01.08.2026 1h 4m

  If eating has become a source of fear because of digestive symptoms, you're not alone. For many people living with IBS, IBD, and other GI conditions, repeated eating-related symptom flares create powerful food–symptom associations that make avoiding certain foods feel like the safest choice. Over time, however, this understandable protective response can become restrictive, limiting nutrition, social connection, and overall quality of life. In this episode, we're joined by digestive health an...
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  Gut Health Trends: Which Ones Deserve the Hype and Which Ones Need a Reality Check? 01.07.2026 44m

  Gut health trends are everywhere, but which ones deserve a closer look, and which ones need a reality check? In this episode, we break down the biggest gut health trends getting clicks, likes, and follows online. From our "hard no" to "I'm curious," we share where each trend lands on our hype scale and explain the science, physiology, and gut-brain connection behind our take. We explore what actually helps symptoms like constipation, bloating, and digestive discomfort without fueling anxiety,...
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  MCAS: A Whole-Body Condition Through the GI Lens (with guest Dr. Zac Spiritos) 01.06.2026 56m

  MCAS is one of those diagnoses that can make it feel like your body is telling a dozen stories at once—and no one is listening. If you're experiencing GI symptoms alongside flushing, hives, brain fog, fatigue, palpitations, medication sensitivities, or a persistent "fight-or-flight" feeling, this episode is designed to help connect the dots without oversimplifying your experience. In this episode, we sit down with gastroenterologist Dr. Zachary Spiritos to unpack mast cell activation syndrome...
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  When Your Gut Gets in the Bedroom: Exploring Sexual Health & Intimacy (with guest Dr. Alyse Bedell) 18.05.2026 42m

  Part 3 of the Women's Health Series Bloating, gas, urgency, abdominal pain, and that relentless “what if something happens?” loop can turn sex from a close connection into stress fast. Digestive symptoms can quietly impact some of the most vulnerable parts of our lives...including intimacy, relationships, and self-esteem. And often, the shame surrounding those experiences feels heavier than the symptoms themselves. If you’ve ever pulled away from connection because your gut felt unpredi...
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  Perimenopause & Menopause: Hormones, Gut Health & Whole-Body Wellness (with guests Drs. Chrisandra Shufelt and Jami Kinnucan) 11.05.2026 53m

  Part 2 of the Women's Health Series Your digestion suddenly feels different, your sleep is falling apart, your mood and patience are all over the place — and you start wondering whether it’s stress, aging, or something bigger. Joined by two extraordinary Mayo Clinic experts, Drs. Chrisandra Shufelt and Jami Kinnucan, we pull back the curtain on perimenopause and menopause, explaining how shifting estrogen and progesterone can ripple through the entire body — from constipation and bloating to ...
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  Endometriosis and IBS: Key Differences, Overlaps, and Diagnosis Tips (with guest Rachelle LaCroix Mallik, MA, RDN) 04.05.2026 48m

  Part 1 of the Women's Health Series Endometriosis can show up like a gut disorder, and that confusion keeps many people stuck for years without answers. We map the overlap between endometriosis and IBS, explain what symptoms should raise suspicion, and share practical ways to build a care plan that supports both digestion and quality of life. • Endometriosis prevalence, symptoms and why it is often missed • IBS-like symptoms explained, including inflammation, adhesions, and visce...
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  Can’t Trust Your Gut? IBS-D Strategies for Fewer Flare-Ups and More Freedom (with guest Beth Rosen, MS, RD) 15.04.2026 34m

  Part 2 of the IBS-D Series We sit down with GI dietitian Beth Rosen to talk about her lived experience with IBS-D, and how the absence of a clear diagnosis and effective treatment plan early on led to frustration and unnecessary food restriction. With the right diagnosis and support, she was able to shift toward a clearer path, building a sustainable, flexible approach to eating and symptom management. We share real-world strategies for identifying triggers, eating enough without ...
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  What’s Really Behind IBS-D? Causes, Triggers, and Treatments (with guest Anthony Lembo, MD) 01.04.2026 34m

  Part 1 of the IBS-D Series We map out a clear, practical way to understand IBS-D, from what it is, to how clinicians rule out the conditions that can look like it. With Dr. Anthony Lembo, we move from science to real-world next steps so you can feel more confident about diagnosis, treatment options, and hope for improvement. • How IBS-D is defined using stool form and pain patterns • When diarrhea needs more workup using alarm features • Common IBS-D mimickers including cel...
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  Tests Say Normal, IBS Symptoms Say Otherwise (with guests Laurie Keefer, PhD and Darren Brenner, MD) 01.03.2026 57m

  Tired of hearing “it’s just stress”? IBS experts Drs. Laurie Keefer and Darren Brenner join Kate Scarlata and Dr. Megan Riehl to set the record straight on irritable bowel syndrome. IBS is a real, biologically based disorder involving the gut–brain axis, the microbiome, immune function, and nervous system signaling. Understanding how these systems interact reshapes how we diagnose, personalize treatment, and support long-term symptom relief. If you’ve felt dismissed, confused, or stuck ...
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  Feed Your Gut: The Fiber Deficit Most of Us Don’t Know We Have (with guest Heather Armstrong, MSc, PhD) 01.02.2026 55m

  Fiber isn’t one-size-fits-all and for some people, more isn’t better. In this episode, we explore why most people under-eat fiber, why certain fibers can worsen symptoms, and how to personalize intake in a way your body can actually tolerate. Dr. Heather Armstrong shares emerging insights on fiber function, microbiome capacity, and practical strategies for going low and slow. We also unpack new science explaining why fiber supports gut health in some individuals, while triggering issues in ot...
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  Miracle or Misused? Benefits, Risks, and Responsible Use of GLP-1s (with guest Supriya Rao, MD) 01.01.2026 46m

  Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) can transform metabolic health, but only with smart dosing, adequate dietary protein, regular strength training, and mental health support. In this episode, we explore how GLP-1 medications work in the brain and gut, why metabolic health is more than BMI or a weight on the scale, and how to use these drugs safely. Our expert guest, gastroenterologist, Dr Supriya Rao shares practical dosing, side effect strategies, and what makes results stick. • Defining...
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  Sorting Fact from Fad: What to Do When Science Isn't Settled 01.12.2025 45m

  This year on The Gut Health Podcast, we dug deeper than ever into the science that shapes our bodies, the myths that confuse us, and the everyday habits that actually move the needle. We challenged probiotic controversies, rethought alcohol culture, explored resilience from gravity to mindset, and turned stress management into practical, usable skills. We broached the topic of vagus nerve stimulation and the potential role of psychedelics and the gut-brain connection! The theme in 2025 was co...
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  Mind-Body Medicine: Psilocybin and the Gut (with guests Emeran Mayer, MD and Erin Mauney, MD) 01.11.2025 55m

  A growing number of patients with stubborn IBS symptoms are asking: if the gut and brain are wired together, could changing one transform the other? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Emeran Mayer and Dr. Erin Mauney to explore what the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy could mean for gut-brain health, beyond the headlines and hype. In this episode we cover: Why traditional IBS treatments often fall short.How psilocybin opens a neuroplastic “window” for processing pain, ...
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  Gravity Resilience: The Gut-Brain-Diet Connection (with guest Brennan Spiegel, MD) 01.10.2025 56m

  Dr. Brennan Spiegel, author of Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health, reveals how gravity shapes everything from our digestive health to our emotional wellbeing in this fascinating exploration of "biogravitational medicine." He presents the revolutionary concept that conditions like IBS and depression may be tied to how well our body resists gravity. • Gravity resilience refers to how well your body manages Earth's gravitational force • People with hyper...
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  The Gut Dictionary: Probiotics, Prebiotics and Postbiotics Explained (with guest Mary Ellen Sanders, PhD) 01.09.2025 47m

  Dr. Mary Ellen Sanders, an expert in probiotic microbiology, helps us decode the often confusing world of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics by explaining their scientific definitions, evidence-based benefits, and practical applications for gut health (and beyond). This episode has been sponsored by Activia. • Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts • For something to be called a probiotic, it must be alive, defined to the s...
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  The Gut Microbiome + Dysbiosis (with guest Mark Pimentel, MD) 01.08.2025 44m

  Dr. Mark Pimentel, Executive Director of the MAST program at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, shares groundbreaking insights into the small intestinal microbiome that challenge long-held beliefs about gut bacteria. Findings from his team’s REIMAGINE study reveal that the small intestine is far from sterile, as previously thought—instead, it harbors substantial bacterial communities that play a critical role in health and disease, especially in conditions such as IBS and SIBO. • E. coli and Klebs...
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  Tailored to the Core: Breathing, Bloating and Precision Medicine (with guest Iris Wang, MD) 01.07.2025 51m

  Dr. Iris Wang of the Mayo Clinic shares cutting-edge insights on gut health across the lifespan, including advancements in pharmacogenomics for personalized medication selection and innovative breathing techniques to relieve abdominal distension. She busts common myths about bloating, revealing how diaphragmatic dysfunction rather than excess gas may be the culprit. Dr. Wang also emphasizes the importance of starting gut health education early, helping kids and parents alike understand that p...
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  Fermented Foods for Gut Health: Myths vs Science (with guest Elisa Caffrey) 01.06.2025 57m

  Fermented foods offer surprising health benefits with science showing they can increase gut microbial diversity in ways other dietary interventions cannot. • Expert Elisa Caffrey clarifies what qualifies as fermented food: substrate + microbes + time • While touted as a source of probiotics, most fermented foods don't technically contain probiotics, which require specific strain characterization and known health benefits •Different types of fermentation are used in food production: lactic ac...