If you've been managing IBS by avoiding certain foods but still experiencing unpredictable flare-ups, you're not alone. Emerging science shows that IBS is a complex condition involving multiple body systems: your nervous system, immune response, and gut microbiome all influence how and when symptoms appear.

For something so physical, IBS is rarely just about the gut.

I created this IBS Masterclass podcast episode to help you finally understand what's really driving your symptoms. And it's not just about food. Stress, sleep, movement, and even your gut-brain connection can all play a role in making IBS worse.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, affects nearly 1 in 10 people worldwide, yet it's still so often dismissed as "just a sensitive gut." The reality? IBS sits in that quiet, complicated space between physical and emotional. And we don't need more elimination diets or shame. We need understanding, compassion, and space to heal.

To give you the clearest answers, I've brought together the world's leading gut health experts:

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz – gastroenterologist and NYT bestselling author of Fiber Fueled, helping us understand the role of fiber, fermentation, and plant diversity in long-term digestive health

Dr. James Kinross – colorectal surgeon and author of Dark Matter, exploring how gut bacteria influence inflammation, immunity, and disease risk

Dr. Emeran Mayer – gastroenterologist & neuroscientist, author of The Mind-Gut-Immune Connection, bringing over four decades of research into how emotions, microbes, and immunity shape the IBS experience

Professor Felice Jacka – Director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, pioneer in nutritional psychiatry, uncovering how food and mental health are deeply connected through the gut

We explore:

• How stress and trauma shape gut-brain signalling

• Why the vagus nerve is a key player in digestion

• The misunderstood link between emotional health and IBS

• Whether FODMAP diets help or simply mask deeper issues

• And how to create a sense of calm in your body that supports long-term healing

This isn't just a masterclass. It's a myth-busting, life-affirming conversation that every person with IBS deserves to hear. You'll discover why your body reacts the way it does and learn how to listen with more compassion. Because sometimes, what looks like bloating or discomfort is your nervous system saying, "I don't feel safe."

If IBS has made you feel frustrated, alone, or disconnected from your own body, I hope this episode brings you clarity and relief. You deserve to feel at home in your body again.

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

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If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

The Gut-Mind Doctor: The Mind & Food Strategies That Can Heal Your Gut Microbiome | Dr. Emeran Mayer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL5ZtoJAUBs

How to FIX Leaky Gut, Improve Health and Stop Cravings | Dr. James Kinross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvupSI_S7_Q

How To Instantly Crush Stress And Find Serenity: Professor Felice Jacka How Food Affects Your Brain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AQNADbFTCs

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Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

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Highlights:

Introduction (00:00)

Definition of a Healthy Gut (01:46)

Symptoms of Gut Dysfunction (04:00)

Can You Eat Fibre if You Have IBS? (11:04)

How Reliable Are Microbiome Tests? (21:39)

How Antibiotics Affect Your Gut (26:51)

Impact of Diet and Nutrition on Microbiome Health (31:58)

How the Microbiome Affects Drug Metabolism (37:58)

Gut-Brain Connection (40:49)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for IBS (55:42)

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