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If you've been living with Crohn's disease or IBD and feel like you've tried everything — only to still be struggling with unpredictable symptoms, fatigue, and a life that feels smaller than it should — this episode is for you.

My guest today is Justin Brown, founder of Rhino Skin Solutions and a Crohn's disease warrior since the age of 12. Justin's story is raw, honest, and deeply relatable. We talk about what it's really like to grow up managing a chronic gut condition, how Crohn's disease reshaped his career and his identity, and — most surprisingly — how starting an antidepressant dramatically improved his GI symptoms.

Whether you have Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS-D, or any form of inflammatory bowel disease, you'll walk away from this episode with a new lens on your symptoms — and real hope.

In this episode we cover:

• What it's like to be diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a child — and how symptoms are often missed

• The social isolation and shame that comes with living with an invisible illness

• How chronic gut conditions like IBD force unexpected career and life pivots

• Why stress management isn't optional when you have a gut condition — it's medicine

• The gut-serotonin connection: why 90% of your serotonin is made in your gut and what that means for your mental health

• How sertraline (an SSRI antidepressant) unexpectedly improved Justin's Crohn's disease symptoms — and what this might mean for the gut-brain axis

• Adapting your life, travel, and outdoor activities when you have IBD — without letting fear run the show

• Finding small wins and non-linear progress when living with a chronic digestive condition

This episode is especially helpful if you're experiencing:

– Chronic diarrhea or loose stools from Crohn's disease or IBS-D

– Anxiety and depression caused by gut symptoms

– Fatigue and brain fog from IBD

– Social anxiety around eating, leaving home, or traveling

– Frustration that conventional medicine isn't giving you answers

– The feeling that your gut condition is running your life

Key takeaway: Living with IBD doesn't mean your quality of life has to suffer. Whether it's adapting your career, finding the right combination of medication and lifestyle support, or finally understanding the gut-brain connection — healing is non-linear, and progress is still progress.

About Justin Brown:

Justin Brown is the founder of Rhino Skin Solutions, a natural skincare line created for athletes dealing with conditions like psoriasis, joint pain, and skin inflammation. He has lived with Crohn's disease since age 12 and is passionate about the intersection of active living, chronic illness management, and community.

To check out Rhino Skin Solutions:

https://rhinoskinsolutions.com/collections/all

Learn more about working with me:

If you're ready to stop managing your IBS-D or IBD symptoms one flare-up at a time and finally get to the root cause, I'd love to connect. The Tame Your Gut Program helps goal-oriented women identify their food triggers, run targeted root cause testing, and build a sustainable plan to reclaim their energy, confidence, and quality of life.

Link to my free training “The Root Cause Approach to Gut Healing”—my step-by-step framework to stop guessing and start healing

Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call

Link to my website

Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.

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If you struggle with bloating, loose stools, acid reflux, or constant bathroom urgency, wheat may be playing a bigger role in your symptoms than you realize.

In this final episode of my 4-part series on wheat and gut health, we go beyond gluten to uncover some of the hidden factors that make modern wheat particularly problematic for people with IBS, IBD, and chronic digestive issues.

Many people believe that only those with celiac disease need to avoid wheat. But the truth is that modern wheat often carries additional gut stressors—including pesticide residues, mold toxins, and changes from industrial farming practices—that can disrupt the microbiome and trigger inflammation.

If you’ve ever wondered why your gut symptoms persist even when tests come back “normal,” this episode will help you understand why wheat can still be a major driver of digestive dysfunction.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

✔ Why modern wheat is different from the wheat our ancestors ate
✔ How GMO crops and hybridized grains may impact the gut microbiome
✔ The role of glyphosate (Roundup) in disrupting healthy gut bacteria
✔ How pesticide exposure may contribute to leaky gut and inflammation
✔ Why grain storage practices can promote mold and mycotoxin exposure
✔ The connection between wheat, microbiome disruption, and IBS or IBD symptoms
✔ Simple first steps you can take if you're considering reducing or eliminating wheat

Free Mini Course: How to Go Wheat-Free Successfully

One of the biggest challenges I see in my practice is people thinking they are wheat-free… only to discover hidden exposure.

I created a step-by-step mini course to help you confidently eliminate wheat and avoid the common pitfalls that keep people reacting.

👉 Grab the mini course here:
 https://go.courtneycowie.com/payment-link/692df7d3bbe21907f0466fe8

Link to my free training “The Root Cause Approach to Gut Healing”—my step-by-step framework to stop guessing and start healing

Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call

Link to my website

Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.

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If you’ve gone gluten-free or wheat-free but still struggle with IBS, IBD, bloating, urgency, loose stools, reflux, or leaky gut symptoms, hidden exposure may be the missing piece.

In this episode of Resolve IBS and IBD Naturally, Courtney breaks down why “mostly gluten-free” often isn’t enough for people with chronic gut inflammation, autoimmune issues, or ongoing digestive symptoms. She explains how accidental wheat exposure can happen through foods, supplements, and even body care products — and why these small exposures can keep the immune system activated and make it harder to calm inflammation.

Courtney also shares why the Wheat Zoomer is one of her favorite tools for identifying wheat sensitivity, how it differs from standard food sensitivity testing, and why so many people think they’re avoiding wheat when they’re actually still being exposed. If you’ve been doing your best but still not seeing progress, this episode will help you uncover the hidden blind spots.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why hidden gluten and wheat exposure can keep IBS and IBD symptoms going
• Why being “mostly gluten-free” is often not enough to calm inflammation
• The difference between standard food sensitivity testing and the Wheat Zoomer
• Why IgG and IgA food sensitivity tests can miss important wheat reactions
• How the Wheat Zoomer helps identify immune reactivity to smaller wheat peptides
• Common hidden sources of wheat in food, supplements, and personal care products
• Why accidental exposure can happen even when you think you’re doing everything right
• How mindset, habits, and behavior change affect success with a fully wheat-free lifestyle

Resources Mentioned

If you want step-by-step help learning how to remove wheat successfully and avoid the hidden exposures that keep triggering symptoms, Courtney’s mini course goes much deeper into this topic.

How to Go Wheat-Free Successfully Mini Course
This training covers hidden sources of wheat, common mistakes, how to assess exposure, and how Courtney uses the Wheat Zoomer to help clients get clear answers.

Register here:
 https://go.courtneycowie.com/payment-link/692df7d3bbe21907f0466fe8

Link to my free training “The Root Cause Approach to Gut Healing”—my step-by-step framework to stop guessing and start healing

Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call

Link to my website

Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.

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If you’ve been told that sourdough is easier to digest or that it’s a safer option when you have IBS, IBD, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or gut inflammation, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Resolve IBS and IBD Naturally, Courtney Cowie breaks down one of the most common misconceptions she hears from people struggling with digestive symptoms: that switching from regular bread to sourdough is enough to solve a wheat sensitivity problem. She explains why sourdough is still often a trigger, why many people with gut issues continue reacting to wheat in all forms, and why symptom patterns can be more complex than they seem.

Courtney also explores how modern wheat differs from traditional wheat, how pesticides, mold, mycotoxins, and gut barrier damage may all contribute to immune reactivity, and why people with IBS or IBD often need a more complete approach than simply swapping one bread for another. If you’ve been wondering whether sourdough is actually okay for your gut, this episode will give you clarity.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why sourdough bread is not necessarily safe for people with IBS or IBD
• The connection between wheat sensitivity, gut inflammation, and immune activation
• Why modern wheat may be more problematic than many people realize
• How glyphosate, mold, and mycotoxins may add to the burden on a weakened gut
• Why you may not always feel an immediate reaction to wheat, even if it is still harming your body
• Why food sensitivities often become clearer after a period of full elimination
• How specialized testing can reveal ongoing immune reactivity to wheat peptides
• Why going fully wheat-free for a period of time may be an important step in reducing symptoms

Resources Mentioned

If you’re trying to remove wheat from your diet but want help doing it thoroughly and successfully, check out Courtney’s mini course:

How to Go Wheat-Free Successfully Mini Course
This training walks you through hidden sources of wheat, common mistakes people make, and how to confidently reduce accidental exposures.

Register here:
 https://go.courtneycowie.com/payment-link/692df7d3bbe21907f0466fe8

Link to my free training “The Root Cause Approach to Gut Healing”—my step-by-step framework to stop guessing and start healing

Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call

Link to my website

Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.

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If you’re struggling with IBS, IBD, bloating, urgency, loose stools, or chronic digestive inflammation, one of the most overlooked root causes may be wheat sensitivity.

But here’s the problem: many people are told wheat isn’t an issue simply because they tested negative for celiac disease.

In this episode, functional nutrition practitioner Courtney Cowie, NTP, FDN-P, breaks down the critical differences between celiac disease, wheat allergy, and wheat sensitivity — and explains why wheat can still trigger digestive symptoms even when standard medical tests say everything is “normal.”

This episode is the first in a 4-part series on wheat and gut health, where you’ll learn how wheat can silently drive inflammation, worsen IBS and IBD symptoms, and disrupt your immune system.

Courtney also explains why many people believe they are wheat-free but are still getting hidden exposures that continue to trigger gut inflammation.

If you’ve been dealing with chronic digestive symptoms that no one can explain, this episode will help you understand why wheat may still be playing a role — and what to do about it.

In This Episode You'll Learn

• The difference between celiac disease, wheat allergy, and wheat sensitivity
• Why testing negative for celiac does NOT mean wheat isn’t affecting your gut
• How wheat can trigger bloating, urgency, diarrhea, fatigue, brain fog, and inflammation
• Why many people believe they are wheat-free but are still getting hidden exposures
• How wheat sensitivities can contribute to autoimmune conditions and IBS/IBD symptoms
• Why eliminating wheat alone sometimes doesn’t fully resolve symptoms
• How keeping a food and symptom journal can help uncover hidden triggers

Resources Mentioned

If you suspect wheat may be contributing to your digestive symptoms but aren’t sure how to remove it successfully, Courtney created a step-by-step mini course to guide you.

👉 How to Go Wheat-Free Successfully Mini Course
Learn how to identify hidden wheat exposures, avoid common mistakes, and remove wheat in a way that actually helps your gut heal.

Access the mini course here:
 https://go.courtneycowie.com/payment-link/692df7d3bbe21907f0466fe8

Link to my free training “The Root Cause Approach to Gut Healing”—my step-by-step framework to stop guessing and start healing

Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call

Link to my website

Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.

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Is your liver really “sluggish”… or have detox trends just confused the conversation?

In this grounded and myth-busting episode, Courtney sits down with Maria Horstmann to unpack what liver detoxification actually means — and why quick cleanses and extreme programs often miss the point.

They explore the difference between true liver congestion and trendy detox culture, and explain why lasting liver health requires sustainable daily habits, not short-term restriction.

Inside this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Common signs of sluggish liver function (fatigue, weight gain, PMS, cravings, brain fog, skin issues, odor sensitivity)
• Why modern toxin exposure is higher than previous generations
• How environmental pollutants impact liver detox pathways
• The role of bile flow and dietary fat in proper detoxification
• Why liver flushes and cleanses require preparation and professional guidance
• The difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification
• How stress impacts liver gene expression and hormone metabolism
• Why alcohol, processed foods, and chronic stress compound congestion
• How hydration, cruciferous vegetables, movement, and sweating support detox naturally
• Why discipline + flexibility creates sustainable results
• Holiday liver strategies that actually work

Maria describes the liver as your body’s “metabolic COO” — regulating glucose, hormones, fat metabolism, and detoxification. When it’s overloaded, symptoms ripple through digestion, hormones, mood, and energy.

Courtney and Maria also discuss:

• Why many hormone “imbalances” are actually detox bottlenecks
• How testing like the DUTCH can reveal detox pathway slowdowns
• The importance of balanced nutrition (not extreme restriction)
• The mindset shift required to move from quick fixes to long-term resilience

This episode is especially relevant during the holiday season — when indulgence, alcohol, stress, and social obligations can strain metabolic capacity.

You’ll walk away with a realistic, science-informed framework for supporting liver health — without falling into detox fads.

Follow and connect with Maria on IG: @maria_horstmann_official

Link to my free training “The Root Cause Approach to Gut Healing”—my step-by-step framework to stop guessing and start healing

Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call

Link to my website

Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.

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What if healing your gut isn’t just about food, supplements, or antimicrobials — but about rewiring the brain?

In this powerful conversation, Courtney sits down with hypnotherapist and meditation teacher Juliana Sloane to explore the science-backed connection between hypnosis, neuroplasticity, vagus nerve regulation, and chronic conditions like IBS, IBD, anxiety, chronic pain, and autoimmune disorders.

Juliana shares how her personal journey through illness led her to modern hypnotherapy — and why hypnosis today looks nothing like outdated stage stereotypes. Instead, it’s a collaborative, neuroscience-informed process that helps shift entrenched neural pathways related to fear, pain, stress, and self-criticism.

Together, Courtney and Juliana unpack how chronic stress physiology dampens vagus nerve tone, lowers digestive function, and perpetuates IBS and autoimmune flares — even when diet and supplements are dialed in.

You’ll learn:

• What hypnosis actually is (and isn’t)
• How trance states support vagal tone and stress regulation
• The role of neuroplasticity in shifting chronic symptom patterns
• Why anxiety and IBS are so tightly linked
• How hypnotherapy can transform long-standing fear around food and symptoms
• The difference between guided hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis tools
• A simple neuroscience-backed visualization technique to calm symptom flares
• Why nervous system regulation is essential for lasting gut healing

Courtney and Juliana also discuss media consumption, childhood self-criticism, and how unconscious belief patterns can quietly sabotage physical healing — even when someone is “doing everything right.”

If you struggle with IBS, IBD, anxiety-driven flares, or autoimmune symptoms that worsen under stress, this episode will expand your understanding of the gut-brain connection — and offer practical, empowering tools to support real change.

Connect with Juliana Sloane

Website: https://julianasloane.com
Free Gentle Hypnosis Meditation: https://julianasloane.com/free-hypnosis-recording
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianasloane
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianasloane/

Link to my free training “The Root Cause Approach to Gut Healing”—my step-by-step framework to stop guessing and start healing

Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call

Link to my website

Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.

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What if your fatigue, gut flares, hormone issues, and “wired but tired” nights aren’t just about food… but about timing?

In this episode, I’m joined by Jason Yun, a circadian rhythm and mitochondrial health coach (and former fitness studio owner) to talk about the often-missed foundations of health: light, sleep, and circadian signaling—and how modern indoor life quietly disrupts everything from digestion to hormones to mood.

Jason shares his personal health breakdown—upside-down cortisol and melatonin patterns, sleep disruption, and hormonal chaos—and how it led him to completely pivot his career away from traditional fitness and nutrition… and into circadian rhythm work.

If you’ve tried diets, supplements, and protocols but still feel stuck, this conversation will open up a whole new angle to consider.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What circadian rhythm really is—and why it impacts sleep, digestion, hormones, energy, blood pressure, and bowel movements
• Jason’s story: from gym owner + nutrition coach to chronic hormone disruption… and what helped him turn it around
• Why mitochondrial health is at the center of energy (and why “eat better + exercise more” isn’t always enough)
• The “3-legged stool” of health Jason uses: light, water, magnetism
• The #1 habit for circadian alignment: seeing sunrise with your naked eyes
• Why your eyes are the master circadian control center (hello, SCN / “master clock”)
• Why we’re living backwards: dark days + bright nights (and why that’s a problem)
• How indoor life contributes to circadian disruption—and the surprising “lux” truth even on cloudy days
• How to start sunrise viewing if you’re sensitive to light (and what “blue light toxicity” looks like)
• Why winter should change your routines (more sleep, less intensity, more recovery)
• Jason’s take on SAD lamps, red light panels, and “biohacking”
• How EMFs can affect health—and simple mitigation strategies (especially at night)
• The dopamine connection: how sunlight supports dopamine (and why screens drain it)
• Blue light blocking glasses 101 (day vs orange vs red lenses)
• Why nasal breathing matters—and why mouth tape can be a powerful tool

Jason Yun Links & Resources

Improvement Warrior Podcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fcvZdw1yT2VOJv6agr6Pi
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/improvement-warrior-podcast/id1558708319

Recommended Episodes:

• Winter Sun Log: Episode 71
• Summer Sun Log: Episode 80
• Cell Phones and Wireless Tech: Episode 54
• Leptin Webinars: Episode 55

Breath Webinar (YouTube)

https://youtu.be/1ije5PzsGfE

Improvement Warrior Newsletter

http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/nl

Social Links

YouTube: http://youtube.com/yuntraining
Twitter/X: http://twitter.com/yuntraining
Facebook: http://facebook.com/sun.yun.jason
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sun.yun.jason
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasonyun3010

Link to my free training “The Root Cause Approach to Gut Healing”—my step-by-step framework to stop guessing and start healing

Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call

Link to my website

Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.

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Vitamin D is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — nutrients when it comes to immune health, gut healing, and autoimmune resilience.

In this episode, I break down why so many people still test low for vitamin D…
 even when they’re supplementing…
 getting sun exposure…
 and “doing everything right.”

This conversation was inspired by a real-life situation with a colleague of mine — someone highly knowledgeable about nutrition — who discovered her vitamin D levels were still very low due to a simple dosing and absorption disconnect.

And if that can happen to someone well-trained in functional nutrition?
 It can happen to anyone.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why most people need vitamin D supplementation year-round — even in sunny climates
 • The optimal vitamin D blood range for immune health (and why conventional “normal” ranges are too low)
 • Why people with IBS, autoimmune disease, and chronic inflammation are often poor vitamin D converters
 • How much vitamin D most adults actually need to reach sufficiency
• Why liposomal vitamin D is often more effective than capsules for gut-compromised individuals
• The connection between vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin K, and fat-soluble vitamin absorption
• Why vitamin A matters for autoimmune regulation and gut resilience
• How to build a simple, consistent vitamin D routine that actually works
• How to test your vitamin D levels affordably — even without insurance coverage

My Recommended Vitamin D Products

I personally use and recommend liposomal vitamin D for better absorption — especially for people with gut inflammation, malabsorption, IBS, or autoimmune disease.

You can find the exact vitamin D and fat-soluble vitamin formulas I use for myself and my clients here:

Shop my Fullscript dispensary: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/ca-cowie

Link to my free training “The Root Cause Approach to Gut Healing”—my step-by-step framework to stop guessing and start healing

Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call

Link to my website

Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.

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Courtney sits down with David Ruby and Gina Lippold-Ruby, certified hypnotherapists and founders of Work Well Hypnosis, for a fascinating, grounded conversation about how the subconscious mind shapes our health, habits, and healing. They demystify hypnosis—what it is (and isn’t), how it works for stress, anxiety, and trauma recovery, and why it can be a surprisingly powerful tool for gut-related conditions like IBS and IBD.

From rewiring emotional triggers to reframing old memories without the charge, David and Gina share real-world examples, explain the brain science, and reveal how hypnotherapy helps people break free from patterns that feel “stuck.” They also preview their upcoming group programs—for working parents and for anyone ready to rediscover authenticity and alignment.

What you’ll learn

• What hypnotherapy really is: science-based subconscious work that helps release outdated emotional and behavioral loops.
• Why skeptics love it: David explains the PubMed-backed research behind hypnosis for pain control, stress reduction, and even IBS.
• How the subconscious drives the body: emotional memories can shape gut reactions, tension, and anxiety patterns until you rewrite them.
• Hypnosis vs. meditation: both calm the nervous system, but hypnosis uses guided imagery and suggestion for directed change.
• Virtual hypnosis that actually works: why online sessions can be more effective because you’re relaxed in your natural environment.
• Group hypnotherapy: how community amplifies transformation—and the design behind Work Well Hypnosis’s new group programs.
• Identity-level change: how to rebuild confidence, motivation, and authenticity through subconscious re-patterning.

Work Well Hypnosis – David Ruby & Gina Lippold-Ruby

• Website: workwellhypnosis.com
  → Hosts free hypnosis audios (aligned with their group programs: calm, confidence, clarity themes).
• Email: [email protected]
• Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin (virtual sessions available worldwide)
• Programs mentioned:
   
  • Work Well / Live Well Collective & Alignment Architecture – group program for working parents to regain clarity and alignment. 
  • Authenticity & Identity Group Program – focused on identity-level transformation and habit change.

Link to my free training “The Root Cause Approach to Gut Healing”—my step-by-step framework to stop guessing and start healing

Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call

Link to my website

Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.