Gutsy Talks

In this episode, I’m joined by Luka McCabe, founder and director of Boob to Food, and best-selling author of Milk to Meals. With a background as a registered midwife and nurse, Luka blends expert clinical knowledge with her own experience as a mum of three to guide caregivers through one of the most important (and overwhelming!) stages of parenting: introducing solids.

Luka created Boob to Food to inspire, educate, and empower parents to feel confident about their baby’s transition from milk to meals. Today, she’s here to break down everything from allergy prevention to baby-led weaning vs. spoon-feeding, all through the lens of gut health, immune development and real-life practicality.

In this episode, we chat about:

• How long breastfeeding is recommended for gut and allergy support
• The “gut-immune window” and ideal timing for starting solids
• Developmental signs of readiness beyond just age
• How solids timing impacts allergy risk
• The latest research on early allergen introduction (like peanuts, eggs, dairy)
• How to safely introduce allergenic foods and respond to reactions
• The difference between CMPA, CMPI, soy allergy and food intolerances
• First foods that support microbiome diversity and gut health
• Baby-led weaning vs. spoon-feeding — how to choose what’s right for your baby
• Whether to offer a wide variety of foods early or keep it simple
• Outdated myths still circulating about food introduction and gut health
• Supportive advice for first-time parents feeling overwhelmed
• Luka’s #1 message for parents navigating solids, gut health and allergies

Rachel’s (she/her) details: Ready To Take Your Next Step To Support Your Gut?

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Watch the FREE Masterclass 'How To Overcome Bloating and IBS Naturally & Eat Your Favourite Foods Without Fear' HERE 

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Visit The Boob To Food website

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Disclaimer: The information provided on Gutsy Talks is for education and informational purposes only. It is not provided nor intended to substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event you have questions or concerns about your health.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sage King — a Naturopath, Nutritionist, educator, and advocate shaking up the world of inclusive reproductive healthcare. Sage offers evidence-based, trauma-informed naturopathic care with a deep commitment to creating safe, accessible spaces for LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and sex worker communities.

Sage brings a broad, nuanced lens to complex health topics, and today we’re diving into one that’s often overlooked: the connection between hormones and histamine. If you’ve experienced symptoms like PMS, migraines, or anxiety that don’t seem to fit the usual hormonal picture, this episode may give you the missing piece of the puzzle.

In this episode, we chat about:

• What histamine is and its roles beyond allergic reactions
• How histamine is produced and regulated in the body
• Histamine intolerance, sensitivity, excess and MCAS
• Common symptoms of histamine issues and why they’re often misdiagnosed
• The gut microbiome’s influence on histamine levels
• How oestrogen and histamine interact
• The role of histamine in reproductive health conditions
• Whether to target histamine, oestrogen, or both in treatment
• The pros and cons of antihistamines
• Testing challenges around histamine intolerance
• How diet, supplements and herbs can help
• Practical tips to manage symptoms while waiting for support
• Sage’s #1 piece of advice for navigating hormonal and histamine issues

Rachel’s (she/her) details: Ready To Take Your Next Step To Support Your Gut?

Follow Rachel on Instagram HERE

Watch the FREE Masterclass 'How To Overcome Bloating and IBS Naturally & Eat Your Favourite Foods Without Fear' HERE 

Check out the range of FREE gut health resources HERE 

Work with Rachel HERE 

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Connect with Sage on Instagram

Work with Sage

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Disclaimer: The information provided on Gutsy Talks is for education and informational purposes only. It is not provided nor intended to substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event you have questions or concerns about your health.

In this episode, I’m joined by Cyndi O’Meara, a trailblazing nutritionist, TEDx speaker, best-selling author, filmmaker, and founder of Changing Habits. With a background in both nutrition and anthropology, Cyndi has spent decades uncovering the truth behind our food system. She’s a passionate advocate for real food, food education, and empowering people to make informed choices about what they eat.

We dive into what’s really hiding in our food, how it could be affecting your gut health and overall wellbeing, and how to cut through marketing fluff and industry jargon to protect yourself and your family. If you’ve ever felt confused or overwhelmed by food labels, additives, or conflicting advice online, this episode will leave you feeling clear, confident and empowered.

In this episode, we chat about:

• What “real food” actually means and how it compares to processed and ultra processed foods
• How these foods affect your gut and microbiome
• Additives and preservatives that may be harming your gut health
• Emulsifiers, gums, and thickeners — are they harmless or harmful?
• The latest research on food additives and which ones to watch out for
• Cyndi’s take on seed oils and their role in gut inflammation
• What glyphosate is and how it might be impacting your gut and microbiome
• Whether organic food is really better for your gut health and when it’s worth the investment
• Non-GMO labels — should you care?
• How to read food labels and spot the red flags
• Words on packaging that sound healthy but can be misleading
• The link between food and mental health and surprising foods that can influence it
• Cyndi’s #1 tip for improving your diet and supporting your gut

Rachel’s (she/her) details: Ready To Take Your Next Step To Support Your Gut?

Follow Rachel on Instagram HERE

Watch the FREE Masterclass 'How to enjoy food without IBS or bloating holding you back' HERE 

Check out the range of FREE gut health resources HERE 

Work with Rachel HERE 

Connect with Cyndi (she/her)

Connect with Cyndi on Instagram

Visit Cyndi’s website

Visit The Nutrition Academy

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Disclaimer: The information provided on Gutsy Talks is for education and informational purposes only. It is not provided nor intended to substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event you have questions or concerns about your health.

Have you ever felt like your bloating is just something you have to live with? That it’s normal to be uncomfortable after meals, to avoid certain foods, or to go days without a bowel movement? If so, this episode is for you.

Today, I’m diving into one of my all-time favourite topics—bloating—and why the advice you've been given about it is often wrong, outdated, or just plain unhelpful. I'm sharing the exact holistic strategy I’ve used with hundreds of my clients to finally break free from bloating and all the confusion that comes with it.

In this solo episode, I explore:

• Why bloating is so common and how it impacts your energy, confidence, and quality of life
• The two paths people often find themselves on: stuck in confusion or empowered with clarity
• Why one-size-fits-all protocols don’t work (and what does instead)
• The outdated advice I bet you’ve been given and why it’s keeping you stuck
• What holistic healing from bloating really looks like
• My 10-part framework that gets to the root cause and helps you reclaim your food and body confidence
• Why healing isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being strategic
• What it actually takes to stop managing your symptoms… and start living symptom-free

If you’re sick of the bloated belly, the food fear, the endless googling and trial-and-error—and you're ready for lasting relief—this episode will help you understand why you're stuck and how to finally move forward.

This is the foundational episode I wish every gut health sufferer could hear. Don’t miss it.

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Rachel’s (she/her) details: Ready To Take Your Next Step To Support Your Gut?

Follow Rachel on Instagram HERE

Watch the FREE Masterclass 'How To Overcome Bloating and IBS Naturally & Eat Your Favourite Foods Without Fear' HERE 

Check out the range of FREE gut health resources HERE 

Work with Rachel HERE 

Support the show

Disclaimer: The information provided on Gutsy Talks is for education and informational purposes only. It is not provided nor intended to substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event you have questions or concerns about your health.

Today’s guest is Dr. Allison Siebecker, the renowned 'Queen of SIBO'. She is a naturopathic physician, award-winning author, clinician and educator, and this week she joins me to unpack one of the most important (but often overlooked) pieces of the gut health puzzle: motility. We explore the migrating motor complex (MMC), why it matters, and how poor motility can contribute to chronic conditions like SIBO. Dr. Siebecker shares her personal journey to working in the SIBO space, explains how to spot motility issues, and so much more. If you're struggling with gut symptoms, this episode is a must-listen for expert insight into how your gut motility might just be the missing piece.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Dr. Siebecker’s own journey with gut health
• What motility is and how it’s linked to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• How the migrating motor complex works
• Red flag symptoms that may indicate a motility issue
• Risk factors for developing issues with MMC 
• Testing the MMC function
• Using prokinetics to treat MMC dysfunction
• The difference between a laxative and prokinetics
• How fasting can be used for MMC support
• Healing nerve regeneration 
• Dr. Siebecker’s advice if you think you have a gut motility issue

Rachel’s (she/her) details: Ready To Take Your Next Step To Support Your Gut?

Follow Rachel on Instagram HERE

Watch the FREE Masterclass 'How to enjoy food without IBS or bloating holding you back' HERE 

Check out the range of FREE gut health resources HERE 

Work with Rachel HERE 

Connect With Dr Siebecker (she/her)

Check out Dr Siebecker’s SIBO Recovery Roadmap Course

Visit Dr. Siebecker's website

Connect with Dr. Siebecker on YouTube

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Disclaimer: The information provided on Gutsy Talks is for education and informational purposes only. It is not provided nor intended to substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event you have questions or concerns about your health.

In this episode, I'm joined by Isabella Lees-Trinca, a physiotherapist specialising in pelvic floor rehabilitation and gut health, with a mission to bring lasting relief to her patients. Issy helps to shine a light on the often-overlooked connection between gut health and pelvic floor function and explains the mechanisms behind how the pelvic floor plays a vital role in digestion and bowel habits as we explore signs of dysfunction and what a pelvic floor assessment actually involves, and much more!

In this episode, we chat about:

• What the pelvic floor is and its role in the body
• The link between the pelvic floor muscles and gut health
• Signs that pelvic floor issues may be at play
• How dysfunction can cause bowel evacuation issues
• Tight vs weak pelvic floor muscles
• What to expect from a pelvic floor assessment
• Using the rectal balloon biofeedback assessment technique
• Gut conditions that may benefit from pelvic floor therapy
• Issy’s pelvic floor exercise tips
• What to look for when booking in with a pelvic floor physio
• How to improve your morning routine for better bowel movements

Rachel’s (she/her) details: Ready To Take Your Next Step To Support Your Gut?

Follow Rachel on Instagram HERE

Watch the FREE Masterclass 'How to enjoy food without IBS or bloating holding you back' HERE 

Check out the range of FREE gut health resources HERE 

Work with Rachel HERE 

Connect With Isabella (she/her)

Find out more about Issy or book an appointment

Check out the resources Issy mentioned:

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk

Continence Health Australia: Find a CFA Physiotherapist

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Disclaimer: The information provided on Gutsy Talks is for education and informational purposes only. It is not provided nor intended to substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event you have questions or concerns about your health.

Today I’m joined by Greta Durston, a degree-qualified Naturopath with advanced training in reproductive health,  specialising in the vaginal microbiome. Greta is on a mission to empower women and AFABs with the sex ed they should have received in school, and she's passionate about creating a safe, supportive space where no question is off-limits and every person feels seen, heard, and validated. Trust me when I tell you that this episode will leave you feeling more informed, empowered, and confident in understanding your body!

In this episode, we chat about:

• Greta’s journey to work with vaginal microbiome
• What a healthy vaginal microbiome looks like
• Signs and symptoms of vaginal dysbiosis
• Common issues and infections
• Accurate vaginal microbiome test options
• Factors affecting the accuracy of testing
• The potential to improve your vaginal microbiome
• Links between the vaginal and gut microbiome
• Why some standard treatments may do more harm than good
• Holistic treatment options
• Oral treatment vs intravaginal treatment
• Commonly misdiagnosed vaginal infections
• The correct way to clean our vulvas
• How to start caring for your vaginal microbiome today

Rachel’s (she/her) details: Ready To Take Your Next Step To Support Your Gut?

Follow Rachel on Instagram HERE

Watch the FREE Masterclass 'How To Overcome Bloating and IBS Naturally & Eat Your Favourite Foods Without Fear' HERE 

Check out the range of FREE gut health resources HERE 

Work with Rachel HERE 

Connect With Greta (she/her)

Book a consultation with Greta in person or online

Visit Greta’s website

Connect with Greta on Instagram

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Disclaimer: The information provided on Gutsy Talks is for education and informational purposes only. It is not provided nor intended to substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event you have questions or concerns about your health.

Have you ever been told your bloating, stomach aches, or unpredictable bowel habits are normal? This one's for you. In today’s solo episode, I dive into a topic I'm deeply passionate about - small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, also known as SIBO. I want to help you understand that SIBO isn’t just a diagnosis, it’s the result of broader dysfunction in the gut, and recognising it can be life-changing. 

In this episode, I chat about:

• What SIBO is and how it affects the gut
• Underlying causes and triggering factors
• Why SIBO could be misdiagnosed
• Signs and symptoms of SIBO
• Diagnostic tests
• The difference between SIBO and IMO
• Common mistakes made in the testing process
• How to treat SIBO and reduce the risk of recurrence
• Recovery and life after SIBO
• How to find an experienced SIBO practitioner
• What to do if you suspect you have SIBO

Rachel’s (she/her) details: Ready To Take Your Next Step To Support Your Gut?

Follow Rachel on Instagram HERE

Watch the FREE Masterclass 'How To Overcome Bloating and IBS Naturally & Eat Your Favourite Foods Without Fear' HERE 

Check out the range of FREE gut health resources HERE 

Work with Rachel HERE 

Support the show

Disclaimer: The information provided on Gutsy Talks is for education and informational purposes only. It is not provided nor intended to substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event you have questions or concerns about your health.

In this episode, naturopath and leading voice in thyroid education, Tara Nelson, shares her extensive knowledge of thyroid health among decades of experience supporting people with thyroid conditions. We chat about why the thyroid is so important, what can go wrong, and how to spot the early signs of imbalance. Tara shares insights that will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and ready to take control of your thyroid health. This episode is a must for anyone wanting to better understand and support their thyroid!

In this episode, we chat about:

• Tara’s personal and professional journey into thyroid health
• The role of the thyroid in our bodies
• Common types of thyroid conditions
• Risk factors that contribute to thyroid dysfunction
• Important links between the thyroid and gut
• The thyroid hormones and their roles
• Tips for taking thyroid medication
• Testing thyroid hormones to detect thyroid conditions
• Key nutrients responsible for thyroid health
• Dietary sources of iodine
• Myths and common misconceptions around thyroid health

Rachel’s (she/her) details: Ready To Take Your Next Step To Support Your Gut?

Follow Rachel on Instagram HERE

Watch the FREE Masterclass 'How to enjoy food without IBS or bloating holding you back' HERE 

Check out the range of FREE gut health resources HERE 

Work with Rachel HERE 

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Become a client of Tara's

Check out Tara’s eBooks and resources

Visit Tara’s website

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Disclaimer: The information provided on Gutsy Talks is for education and informational purposes only. It is not provided nor intended to substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event you have questions or concerns about your health.

This week, Alison Vickery shares her expert insights into a lesser-known infection that may be quietly impacting your health. Drawing from her personal healing journey and deep clinical knowledge, Alison unpacks the complexities of Bartonella bacteria (AKA Bart), the role of the nervous system in recovery, and what it takes to restore balance in the body.

In this episode, we chat about:

• What a Bartonella infection is
• The difference between Bartonella and other gram-negative bacteria
• How does someone acquire the infection
• Why the nervous system plays a big role in recovery
• Key signs and symptoms of infection to look out for
• Risk factors for getting the infection
• Successfully testing for Bartonella
• Recognition of Bartonella amongst GPs and specialists
• Helpful clinical treatment options
• Simple ways to help yourself at home

Rachel’s (she/her) details: Ready To Take Your Next Step To Support Your Gut?

Follow Rachel on Instagram HERE

Watch the FREE Masterclass 'How to enjoy food without IBS or bloating holding you back' HERE 

Check out the range of FREE gut health resources HERE 

Work with Rachel HERE 

Connect With Alison (she/her)

Become a client

Are you a practitioner? Read about Alison’s Masterclass

Check out Alison’s recipe books & freebies

Visit Alison’s website

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Subscribe to Alison's YouTube Channel

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Disclaimer: The information provided on Gutsy Talks is for education and informational purposes only. It is not provided nor intended to substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event you have questions or concerns about your health.