Episodes

  • Intimacy, Pelvic Floor, and IBS with Dr. Janelle Howell

    Intimacy, Pelvic Floor, and IBS with Dr. Janelle Howell
    Aug 8 2025
    If you’ve ever wondered how pelvic floor therapy fits into gut health, this episode of The Gut Show is for you! Dr. Janelle shares what vaginismus is, how this relates to IBS, how pelvic floor PT can help, and where to start if this is something you’re struggling with. You are not the only one dealing with this. Mentioned in this episode: What's your poop personality quiz MASTER Method Membership About our guest: Dr. Janelle Frederick (formerly Dr. Janelle Howell), DPT, WCS The Vagina Rehab Doctor | Award-Winning Pelvic Floor Specialist Dr. Janelle Frederick, known as the Vagina Rehab Doctor, is a world-renowned pelvic floor specialist dedicated to helping individuals overcome pelvic floor dysfunction and reclaim their confidence. Recently married, she proudly embraces her new name while continuing her mission to break the stigma surrounding pelvic health. Originally from a small city in Alabama, Dr. Janelle brings warmth, expertise, and a passion for empowering others. Her groundbreaking work has earned her the prestigious title of Sexpert of the Year 2022 and widespread recognition in publications such as The New York Times, US News & World Report, Essence Magazine, and Insider. She has also been a featured guest on leading platforms like Therapy for Black Girls, where she shares her expertise on sexual health, intimacy, and pelvic wellness. As an award-winning doctor, speaker, and advocate, Dr. Janelle is on a mission to educate and empower people about the wonders of their bodies. Through speaking engagements, media appearances, and clinical practice, she continues to lead the charge in revolutionizing pelvic health care." Website: https://www.vaginarehabdoctor.com Podcast: The Vagina Rehab Doctor Podcast Instagram: @vaginarehabdoctor Thank you to our partners: This episode is made possible with support from Ardelyx. Gemelli Biotech offers trusted, science-backed at-home tests for conditions like SIBO, IMO, ISO, and post-infectious IBS. Their Trio-Smart breath test measures all three key gases: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide to detect different forms of microbial overgrowth. And for those with IBS symptoms, IBS-Smart is a simple blood test that can confirm post-infectious IBS with clinical accuracy. You simply order the test, complete it at home, send it back, and get clinically backed results in about a week that you can take to your provider! Find out which tests are right for you at getgutanswers.com and use code ERINJUDGE25 to save $35 on your order! FODZYME is the world’s first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs. When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME’s novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues. With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, Brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME’s digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss. Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer. Connect with Erin Judge, RD: IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinjudge.rd TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinjudge.rd Work with Gutivate: https://gutivate.com/services
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    47 mins
  • Wait, that triggers IBS?

    Wait, that triggers IBS?
    Aug 1 2025
    Some triggers don’t get talked about enough. We focus a lot on food and lifestyle habits, but there are other pieces that often get overlooked. They might not come up at your doctor’s office, but they can still fill your trigger bucket… and eventually make it overflow. Thank you to our partners:

    This episode is made possible with support from Ardelyx.

    FODZYME is the world’s first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs.

    When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME’s novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues.

    With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, Brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME’s digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss. Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer.

    Gemelli Biotech offers trusted, science-backed at-home tests for conditions like SIBO, IMO, ISO, and post-infectious IBS.

    Their Trio-Smart breath test measures all three key gases: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide to detect different forms of microbial overgrowth. And for those with IBS symptoms, IBS-Smart is a simple blood test that can confirm post-infectious IBS with clinical accuracy.

    You simply order the test, complete it at home, send it back, and get clinically backed results in about a week that you can take to your provider!

    Find out which tests are right for you at getgutanswers.com and use code ERINJUDGE25 to save $25 on your order!

    Covered in this episode: Your trigger bucket [3:41] Stressors [4:55] Sleep [6:25] Hormones [7:21] What about eating too fast or too slow? [8:55] Processed foods vs whole foods [14:31] Carbonation [22:41] Added fibers [24:31] Scar tissue or adhesions [26:27] Pelvic floor dysfunction [29:38] Travel [34:31]

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    38 mins
  • Understanding MCAS with Dr. Zachary Spiritos

    Understanding MCAS with Dr. Zachary Spiritos
    Jul 25 2025
    “When was the last time you felt normal?” For many living with mysterious, fluctuating symptoms...that question feels all too familiar. I’m chatting with Dr. Zachary Spiritos about Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) - what it is, what his classic patient looks like, and what to do if you suspect it’s behind your symptoms. If you’ve been told everything looks fine but you still don’t feel right, this episode of The Gut Show is for you! Covered in this episode: Introducing Dr. Zachary Spiritos [3:10] What are mast cells [8:41] His classic patient [12:51] When is the last time you felt normal? [16:00] Why do patients get MCAS? [19:24] Evaluation for MCAS [21:27] Treatment [24:09] Medications [29:12] Histamine vs MCAS [32:39] Is a low histamine diet forever? [34:56] ARFID [37:10] How to find the right provider for MCAS [38:20] Thank you to our partners: FODZYME is the world’s first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs. When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME’s novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues. With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, Brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME’s digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss. Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer. This episode is made possible with support from Ardelyx. Gemelli Biotech offers trusted, science-backed at-home tests for conditions like SIBO, IMO, ISO, and post-infectious IBS. Their Trio-Smart breath test measures all three key gases: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide to detect different forms of microbial overgrowth. And for those with IBS symptoms, IBS-Smart is a simple blood test that can confirm post-infectious IBS with clinical accuracy. You simply order the test, complete it at home, send it back, and get clinically backed results in about a week that you can take to your provider! Find out which tests are right for you at getgutanswers.com and use code ERINJUDGE25 to save $25 on your order! About Dr. Zachary Spiritos: Dr. Zachary Spiritos is a Philadelphian turned North Carolinian, having made his way south for college and ultimately putting down roots after meeting his wife. He graduated cum laude from Davidson College and went on to ultimately complete his gastroenterology fellowship at Duke University. Dr. Spiritos specializes in neurogastroenterology, with a focus on disorders like postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and gastrointestinal issues related to hypermobility syndromes. He also cares for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional GI disorders, and complex motility conditions. Passionate about patient education and whole-person care, he integrates nutrition, stress management, and gut-brain therapies into his treatment approach. Outside of medicine, Dr. Spiritos and his wife stay busy chasing after their two young kids. He enjoys hiking, playing basketball, and fitting in workouts whenever he can. Connect with Dr. Spiritos on his website or on Instagram. Mentioned in this episode: What’s your poop personality? MASTER Method Membership Connect with Erin Judge, RD: IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinjudge.rd TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinjudge.rd Work with Gutivate: https://gutivate.com/services
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    52 mins
  • Navigating Dietary Restrictions & Food Fear with IBS

    Navigating Dietary Restrictions & Food Fear with IBS
    Jul 18 2025
    Food doesn’t cause IBS. But the fear around food? That’s real. In this episode of The Gut Show, I’m talking about when restrictions help, when they don’t, and what else could be driving your symptoms. Thank you to our partners: @GemelliBiotech offers trusted, science-backed at-home tests for conditions like SIBO, IMO, ISO, and post-infectious IBS. Their Trio-Smart breath test measures all three key gases: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide to detect different forms of microbial overgrowth. And for those with IBS symptoms, IBS-Smart is a simple blood test that can confirm post-infectious IBS with clinical accuracy. You simply order the test, complete it at home, send it back, and get clinically backed results in about a week that you can take to your provider! Find out which tests are right for you at getgutanswers.com and use code ERINJUDGE25 to save $25 on your order! @FODZYME is the world’s first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs. When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME’s novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues. With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, Brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME’s digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss. Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer. This episode is made possible with support from Ardelyx. Covered in this episode: Why I work with IBS [3:10] The most common reason for dietary restriction in IBS [4:09] Food intolerance in IBS [6:10] Visceral hypersensitivity [7:45] Immune activation [9:05] Dysbiosis [9:54] Intestinal permeability [10:51] Food does not cause IBS [12:42] (social?) When do restrictions work? [14:01] When restrictions work against you [16:47] Pitfalls to be aware of [23:06] Support for food fear [36:59] How to approach dietary restrictions [45:59] Sustainable ways to approach restrictions [47:27] Non food restriction strategies [51:23] What does managing IBS look like? [52:15] How do you get there? [56:20] Mentioned in this episode: MASTER Method Membership Take the quiz: What's your poop personality? Malabsorption Overlapping With or Masking as IBS Connect with Gutivate: IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinjudge.rd TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinjudge.rd Work with Gutivate: https://gutivate.com/services
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    59 mins
  • Malabsorption masked as and overlapping with IBS

    Malabsorption masked as and overlapping with IBS
    Jul 11 2025
    If you're doing “all the right things” for IBS but still struggling, it might be time to look beyond IBS itself. In this episode of The Gut Show, I talk with Dr Lee and Dr Singh about other conditions that can mimic or worsen IBS symptoms, such as food intolerances, malabsorption, SID and bile acid diarrhea. Covered in this episode: Introducing our guests [3:29] Food intolerance vs food allergy [5:05] Food intolerance in IBS [8:23] Malabsorption [8:38] SID [10:31] Lactose intolerance [14:23] Bile acid diarrhea/malabsorption [16:04] Exocrine Pancreatic insufficiency [28:15] How to assess food intolerance [34:32] Q&A [41:10] Thank you to our partners: @FODZYME is the world’s first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs. When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME’s novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues. With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, Brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME’s digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss. Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer. @GemelliBiotech offers trusted, science-backed at-home tests for conditions like SIBO, IMO, ISO, and post-infectious IBS. Their Trio-Smart breath test measures all three key gases: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide to detect different forms of microbial overgrowth. And for those with IBS symptoms, IBS-Smart is a simple blood test that can confirm post-infectious IBS with clinical accuracy. You simply order the test, complete it at home, send it back, and get clinically backed results in about a week that you can take to your provider! Find out which tests are right for you at getgutanswers.com and use code ERINJUDGE25 to save $25 on your order!
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Does foodborne illness cause chronic IBS?

    Does foodborne illness cause chronic IBS?
    Jul 4 2025

    Could a past food poisoning incident be the reason your gut hasn’t felt right since?

    In this episode of The Gut Show, we’re diving into how foodborne illness connects to IBS—and what you can do to protect yourself.

    Have you ever traced your IBS back to a foodborne illness?

    In this episode, we cover:

    My goal with this episode [3:10]

    The most known cause of IBS [3:34]

    How do you get foodborne illness? [7:33]

    Signs of foodborne illness [12:53]

    When will symptoms pass? [15:20]

    Can repeat infections make things worse? [19:29]

    Preventing foodborne illness [24:49]

    What if you're not the one making the food? [35:35]

    Food recalls and contamination [45:32]

    What if you get foodborne illness? [50:49]

    Mentioned in this episode:

    SIBO episode

    What's your poop personality?

    MASTER Method Membership

    Thank you to our partners:

    FODZYME is the world’s first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs.

    When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME’s novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues.

    With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, Brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME’s digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss. Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer.

    Gemelli Biotech offers trusted, science-backed at-home tests for conditions like SIBO, IMO, ISO, and post-infectious IBS.

    Their Trio-Smart breath test measures all three key gases: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide to detect different forms of microbial overgrowth. And for those with IBS symptoms, IBS-Smart is a simple blood test that can confirm post-infectious IBS with clinical accuracy.

    You simply order the test, complete it at home, send it back, and get clinically backed results in about a week that you can take to your provider!

    Find out which tests are right for you at getgutanswers.com and use code ERINJUDGE25 to save $25 on your order!

    Connect with Erin Judge, RD:

    IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinjudge.rd

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinjudge.rd

    Work with Gutivate:

    https://gutivate.com/services

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    54 mins
  • Gut, Brain, Bedtime: How sleep impacts IBS and what you can do about it

    Gut, Brain, Bedtime: How sleep impacts IBS and what you can do about it
    Jun 27 2025
    Struggling with sleep and IBS? You're not alone and there's a deeper connection than you think. Tune in to the latest episode of The Gut Show to learn from @pacificintegrativepsych to learn more! From melatonin to mindset, we’ve got integrative tools you can actually use tonight! Mentioned in this episode: Melatonin brand guide What's your poop personality? MASTER Method Membership Thank you to our partners: Gemelli Biotech offers trusted, science-backed at-home tests for conditions like SIBO, IMO, ISO, and post-infectious IBS. Their Trio-Smart breath test measures all three key gases: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide to detect different forms of microbial overgrowth. And for those with IBS symptoms, IBS-Smart is a simple blood test that can confirm post-infectious IBS with clinical accuracy. You simply order the test, complete it at home, send it back, and get clinically backed results in about a week that you can take to your provider! Find out which tests are right for you at getgutanswers.com and use code ERINJUDGE25 to save $25 on your order! FODZYME is the world’s first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs. When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME’s novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues. With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, Brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME’s digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss. Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer. Covered in this episode: About Dr. Bhopal [3:10] Take a deep breath [4:29] Sleep 101 - why is sleep important? [6:03] What happens when you’re sleeping? [7:30] Is lack of sleep raising your blood pressure? [11:51] How much sleep do you need? [10:32] Is it a good idea to nap? [12:08] 4 sleep pillars [13:19] Those with IBS are more likely to have sleep disorders [15:29] Why this matters for you [18:15] Integrative strategies for better sleep [19:37] Can melatonin improve IBS symptoms? [24:07] Sleep drive [25:13] Mindset and nervous system [26:12] Chronic insomnia [28:01] Yoga [30:03] Aromatherapy [31:30] Nutrition and dietary supplements [32:56] Answering your questions [40:28] About Dr. Bhopal: Nishi Bhopal MD is board certified in Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine, and Integrative Holistic Medicine. She is the founder and medical director of Pacific Integrative Psychiatry, an online practice in California where patients receive a whole-person approach to anxiety and sleep disorders, including sleep coaching, and integrative and functional medicine. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Bhopal is the founder of IntraBalance, an educational platform for physicians and therapists that includes a YouTube channel and online courses on clinical sleep medicine for healthcare practitioners. Her passion is making clinical sleep medicine easy to understand and accessible to all. LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishibhopal/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/intrabalance IG: https://www.instagram.com/pacificintegrativepsych Private practice website: https://pacificintegrativepsych.com/ Connect with Erin Judge, RD: Download My Gut Journal for free Work with Gutivate Instagram TikTok
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Untangling SIBO, IMO, and ISO: IBS Insights with Dr. Pimentel

    Untangling SIBO, IMO, and ISO: IBS Insights with Dr. Pimentel
    Jun 20 2025
    Still struggling with IBS symptoms, even after trying everything? It might not be “just IBS.” In the first episode of The Gut Show, Season 8, Dr. Mark Pimentel breaks down the connection between SIBO, IMO, ISO, and IBS, and what patients need to know about testing, treatment, and what’s actually causing your symptoms. We talked about breath tests, stool tests, probiotics, antibiotics (like Rifaximin + Neomycin), the meds that cause SIBO, and more. Covered in this episode: Introducing Dr. Pimentel, MD [2:18] What is SIBO, ISO and IMO? [3:18] Should everyone with IBS do breath testing? [7:14] New guidelines that have come out [9:50] How should a patient navigate testing? [11:11] What about stool testing? [13:16] Negative test + symptoms or positive test without symptoms [16:50] What does normal mean? [18:44] Who does all 3 [20:39] Glucose vs Lactulose for the test [21:05] What causes these overgrowths? [21:52] The medication that WILL make you have SIBO [23:53] MAST cells, IBD, endometriosis [24:34] Treatment [32:07] Rifaximin [34:19] Any Statin or seaweed based treatment updates? [37:51] Neomycin [39:25] Elemental diet [41:23] What Dr. Pimentel wants for his patients [45:17] Probiotics [46:40] The role of metabolic disorders [48:22] Rapid fire questions [50:59] Mentioned in this episode: MASTER Method Membership Take the quiz: What's your poop personality? Sponsors of The Gut Show: FODZYME is the world’s first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs. When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME’s novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues. With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, Brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME’s digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss. Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer. Gemelli Biotech offers trusted, science-backed at-home tests for conditions like SIBO, IMO, ISO, and post-infectious IBS. Their Trio-Smart breath test measures all three key gases: hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide to detect different forms of microbial overgrowth. And for those with IBS symptoms, IBS-Smart is a simple blood test that can confirm post-infectious IBS with clinical accuracy. You simply order the test, complete it at home, send it back, and get clinically backed results in about a week that you can take to your provider! Find out which tests are right for you at getgutanswers.com and use code ERINJUDGE25 to save $25 on your order! About our speaker: Mark Pimentel, MD, FRCP(C), is a Professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai and Professor of Medicine and of Gastroenterology through Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Pimentel is also the Executive Director of the Medically Associated Science and Technology (MAST) program at Cedars-Sinai, an enterprise of physicians and researchers dedicated to the study of the gut microbiome in order to develop effective diagnostic tools and therapies to improve patient care. As a physician and researcher, Dr. Pimentel has served as a principal investigator or co-investigator for numerous basic science, translational and clinical investigations of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the relationship between gut flora composition and human disease. This research led to the first ever blood tests for IBS, ibs-smart™, the only licensed and patented serologic diagnostic for irritable bowel syndrome. The test measures the levels of two validated IBS biomarkers, anti-CdtB and anti-vinculin. A pioneering expert in IBS, Dr. Pimentel’s work has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, American Journal of Physiology, American Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Gastroenterology and Digestive Diseases and Sciences, among others. Dr. Pimentel has presented at national and international medical conferences and advisory boards. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine (Gastroenterology,) a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and a member of the American Gastroenterological Association, the American College of Gastroenterology, and the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society. Dr. Pimentel completed 3 years of an undergraduate degree in honors microbiology and biochemistry at the University of Manitoba, Canada. This was followed by his medical degree, and his BSc (Med) from the University of Manitoba Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where he also completed a residency in internal medicine. His medical training includes a fellowship in gastroenterology at the UCLA Affiliated Training Program. Connect with Erin Judge, RD: IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinjudge.rd TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinjudge.rd Work with Gutivate: https://gutivate.com/services
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    1 hr and 3 mins