Thanksgiving can present unique challenges to people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. This year we have the added strain of dealing with COVID-19. Mike and Cam discuss what the changes will be for them this year as well as tips on how to stay safe during the holidays. They also share their insights on using the pandemic as an example for how careful we have to be in our lives avoiding gluten.

Lori Welstead, Registered Dietician and Nutritional Advisor at the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, joins Mike and Cam to share her own incredible story of her celiac diagnosis. Lori also talks about her approach working with newly diagnosed celiac patients. We also hear about the University of Chicago's upcoming Celiac Disease, Autoimmunity & Beyond virtual symposium that is coming up on Saturday, November 21st. 

Mike and Cam are excited to be joined by Jeanne Reid and Laura Allred of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). They share the big news with us that GIG is changing the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO) seal, the GF in the circle that we have all come to know and trust over the years. We learn the details and thought process behind this decision and why it will benefit the celiac and gluten free community moving forward.

Mike and Cam sit down to discuss three new fascinating studies that were done in conjunction with The Celiac Disease Foundation's, iCureCeliac Patient Registry. We also talk about the early results of research just in time for Thanksgiving. This one showed that combining turkey amino acid (tryptophan) with probiotics was found to reduce gluten-triggered inflammation and improve the response to a gluten-free diet in people with celiac disease. 

This week we wrap up our Fall News and Notes podcast with a couple of uplifting messages from our listeners, an update on how the Nourished Festival went including shout outs to the companies who sent us some samples to try. On that topic we discuss examples of some of the struggles that gluten free businesses are having during this time and what we can do to support the small companies and restaurants who are working so hard to support us.

Mike and Cam sit down to discuss some of the current topics in the celiac and gluten free world, and also read some letters from our amazing listeners. In part one of this special two part fall episode, we share a listener's emotional family story, talk about a promising study about how gluten being introduced to infants might impact them getting celiac disease, and the latest on the Nima sensor situation.

It has been treacherous navigating daily life during the COVID outbreak. Students with celiac returning to school have been put under extra stress, as many schools have fewer resources devoted to students with celiac or other food intolerances. Some colleges have abandoned special food programs all together. Andrea Tucker is working hard to support students and their families who are facing these obstacles. She has a Facebook group Gluten Free College 101 and is announcing a new subscription platform to provide this very important support.

Disability Rights Attorney, Mary Vargas, returns to the podcast representing her clients in two landmark cases within the celiac community. J.D., whose case against Colonial Williamsburg sent shockwaves through the celiac and gluten free community, and Hannah, who's involved in a case against the University of Maryland. Both courageous guests share their experiences about these tough situations, how and why they decided to go to court, and their long term hopes about how their cases can hopefully effect positive change moving forward.

Returning author and blogger, Debbie Simpson of Gluten Free Respect, has just released her newest book "Gluten Free: The Emotional Side of Dietary Differences." Debbie, Mike and Cam have a frank discussion about the emotions that come with having celiac disease or gluten intolerance, and some of the steps and challenges that they all experienced in order to move through their lives both pre-diagnosis and post.

Nima was recently sold to the company Medline, and not everything has gone so smoothly. Most importantly, people who rely on the Nima have found that replacement capsules are no longer available for purchase. It has been difficult finding answers from Medline, so Mike and Cam want to share the latest on the situation and offer some of their thoughts and ideas that could make things easier moving forward.