Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Giulia Enders, physician, scientist, and internationally bestselling author of Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ, a book that has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide and transformed the way millions of people think about the gut.

We discuss her highly anticipated new book, Organ Speak: What It Really Means to Listen to Our Bodies, and explore how our organs from the lungs and immune system to the skin, muscles, brain, and gut, are constantly communicating with us and with each other.

Together, we talk about the journey from Gut to Organ Speak, what inspired this new book, how science and storytelling can change the way we understand our bodies, and why viewing the body as an interconnected system rather than a collection of separate organs may reshape the way we think about health, illness, and healing.

Whether you're a clinician, researcher, student, or simply fascinated by the human body, this episode offers a fresh perspective on what it really means to listen to our bodies.

Please enjoy my conversation with Dr Giulia Enders.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Natalie Kiel, gastroenterologist and endoscopist with expertise in inflammatory bowel disease, disorders of gut–brain interaction, and diagnostic endoscopy.

We take a deep dive into gastroscopies and colonoscopies, covering everything patients need to know before, during, and after the procedure. Natalie explains what endoscopy actually involves, the differences between a gastroscopy and colonoscopy, why people are referred, and what symptoms should prompt further investigation.

We also unpack one of the most talked-about parts of the process, bowel preparation. Natalie shares practical tips for making prep easier, explains what good bowel prep looks like, and discusses the most common mistakes that can affect procedure quality.

We explore sedation, recovery, biopsies, polyps, procedure risks, and how scopes are cleaned and maintained to ensure patient safety. Natalie also discusses common findings during endoscopy, when biopsies are needed even when everything looks normal, and how endoscopy continues to evolve through new technologies and techniques.

Whether you're preparing for your first gastroscopy or colonoscopy, supporting a loved one through the process, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes, this episode provides practical, evidence-based answers to the questions patients ask most often.

Please enjoy my conversation with Dr Natalie Kiel.

In this episode, I'm joined by Jessica Salwen-Deremer, Director of Behavioral Medicine for Digestive Health at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Associate Professor at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

Dr Salwen-Deremer specialises in the intersection of sleep, gut health, and gastrointestinal behavioural medicine, with a particular focus on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In this episode, we explore the powerful and often overlooked relationship between sleep and the gut — including how poor sleep can worsen pain, fatigue, and inflammation, and how gut symptoms can in turn disrupt sleep. We unpack the bidirectional nature of this relationship, the role of the gut microbiome and circadian rhythms, and why sleep should be considered a core part of managing conditions like IBD and IBS.

We also discuss how to recognise and assess sleep problems in clinical practice, the difference between insomnia and symptom-driven sleep disruption, and why treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) can be so effective.

Whether you're a clinician or someone living with gut symptoms, this episode highlights why sleep is not just a side issue — it's central to gut health and overall wellbeing.

Please enjoy my conversation with Dr Jessica Salwen-Deremer.

In this episode, I'm joined by Christina Jagielski, GI health psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Michigan Medicine.

Dr Jagielski specialises in the intersection of psychological trauma and gastrointestinal health, using evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, relaxation training, and gut-directed hypnotherapy to support patients with a range of GI conditions.

In this episode, we explore trauma-informed care in gastroenterology — including how trauma can shape gut symptoms, patient behaviour, and healthcare experiences. We unpack the biological and psychological pathways linking trauma and the gut–brain axis, the risk of re-traumatisation in clinical settings, and why patients with trauma histories often experience more severe symptoms and poorer quality of life.

We also discuss practical strategies for clinicians and healthcare teams, including how to create safer, more compassionate environments through trauma-informed principles such as safety, transparency, choice, and collaboration.

Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or someone living with a gut condition, this episode offers powerful insights into how care can be delivered in a way that heals, rather than harms.

Please enjoy my conversation with Dr Christina Jagielski.

n this episode, I'm joined by Jessica Biesiekierski, Associate Professor and Head of Human Nutrition at the University of Melbourne, and an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow specialising in diet, gut health, and gut–brain interactions.

Jess is internationally recognised for her work on non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), a term she helped define during her PhD at Monash University. Her research has been instrumental in shaping how we understand the complex relationship between gluten, gut symptoms, and the role of other dietary factors.

In this episode, we explore what NCGS actually is — and what it isn't — why diagnosing it remains challenging, and the role of factors like fermentable carbohydrates and the nocebo effect in symptom generation.

Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or someone navigating gluten-related symptoms, this conversation offers clear, evidence-based insights into a highly debated and evolving area of gut health.

Please enjoy my conversation with Dr Jessica Biesiekierski

In this episode of The Talking Gut Podcast, Dr Jim Kantidakis sits down with Professor Ted J. Kaptchuk, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Professor Kaptchuk is one of the world's leading researchers in placebo science. His groundbreaking 2010 study, Placebos Without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, demonstrated that patients with IBS improved even when they knowingly took a placebo — challenging long-held assumptions about mind–body interactions and symptom perception.

In this conversation, we explore:

• What the placebo effect really is — and what it isn't

• Why IBS and other gut–brain disorders show high placebo response rates

• How open-label placebo works without deception

• The neurobiology of expectation, ritual, and healing

• What the "therapeutic encounter" means for modern clinical practice

This episode invites clinicians and patients alike to rethink symptoms, perception, and the powerful role of context in healing.

In this episode of The Talking Gut Podcast, I'm joined by leading gastroenterologist Professor Jane Andrews, a Clinical Professor with more than 25 years of experience in patient care, research, and health system innovation. From building one of Australia's largest IBD services to serving as Chair and Medical Director of Crohn's Colitis Cure, Professor Andrews has played a major role in shaping modern gastroenterology and patient-centred care.

Together, we explore how to create real value in healthcare from improving access and coordination through digital tools to designing integrated, multidisciplinary models that better support people living with gut conditions. Professor Andrews shares insights into value-based care, digital registries and telehealth, patient empowerment through data access, and how health systems can deliver smarter, more equitable care.

We also discuss the importance of holistic, lifestyle-focused approaches, including the role of behaviour change, mental wellbeing, and the gut–brain connection in managing chronic gastrointestinal conditions.

Whether you're a clinician, healthcare leader, researcher, or someone living with a gut condition, this episode offers practical insights into building more empowering, efficient, and human-centred models of care.

Please enjoy my conversation with Professor Jane Andrews.

In this episode, I'm joined by Distinguished Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley, one of Australia's most cited medical researchers and a global leader in neurogastroenterology, mucosal immunology, and disorders of gut–brain interaction.

Professor Talley shares his expertise on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an emerging immune-mediated condition changing how we understand gut inflammation, diet, and the microbiome.We'll explore what causes EoE, how it's diagnosed and treated, and what the latest research reveals about its connection to diet and environmental factors.

Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or simply interested in gut health, this episode offers clear, evidence-based insights into a rapidly evolving field. Please enjoy my conversation with Professor Nicholas Talley.

Talking Gut is taking a short break over the holidays! Thank you for an incredible year of learning, curiosity, and gut health insights. We'll be back in the new year with fresh episodes and standout guests including experts like Prof Nicholas Talley, A/Prof Jessica Biesiekierski, Prof Ted J. Kaptchuk and more. Stay tuned and enjoy the break!

In this episode, I'm joined by Allison Bryant, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist and expert in bowel mechanics, pelvic floor dysfunction, constipation, and incontinence. Together, we take a surprisingly fascinating deep dive into how to actually poo correctly—because most people are doing it wrong!

We explore:

• What healthy bowel habits really look like (frequency, consistency, effort)
• Why bowel movements should be painless, quick, and completely strain-free
• How stool type reveals what's happening in the gut and pelvic floor
• The importance of responding to the "call to stool"
• Early signs something isn't normal (urgency, leakage, excessive wiping, incomplete emptying)
• Why leakage is not always about weak muscles
• The role of the pelvic floor and why learning to relax, not just strengthen, is crucial
• How posture, mechanics, and toilet positioning can transform your bowel routine
• Evidence-based treatments like biofeedback and how they retrain bowel coordination
• Fibre, laxatives, stool consistency, and practical tips people can start using today
• Why multidisciplinary care is essential for long-term gut and pelvic health

This episode is packed with practical, clear, and often eye-opening guidance that every human needs to hear. Whether you're a clinician, someone with bowel problems, or simply curious about your gut, this conversation is both empowering and genuinely life-changing.

Enjoy my chat with Allison Bryant.