Listen to Your Gut: A new podcast exploring the fascinating world of gut health
It’s time to start listening to your gut — literally. ‘Listen to Your Gut,’ a new 10-episode podcast powered by ITN Business and proudly sponsored by Yeo Valley Organic Kefir, invites you to dive into the fascinating, often misunderstood world of gut health.
Far from just a digestive system, your gut is a complex, powerful force that impacts everything from your immune system to your mood. Dubbed the ‘second brain,’ the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in our overall wellbeing — but how much do we really understand about what’s going on inside us? This podcast series aims to demystify the science, debunk common myths, and offer practical advice that can genuinely improve your health.
‘Listen to Your Gut’ isn’t just about delivering facts and figures; it tells real stories from real people navigating life with gut-related conditions, alongside expert insights from academics, clinicians, and dieticians who are at the forefront of gut health research. Together, they paint a vivid picture of how our bowels influence not just our digestion, but our mental health, sleep, and even conditions like ADHD.
Each episode zeroes in on a different aspect of gut health — from the impact of stress and diet to the latest research on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the surprising connections between gut health and mental wellbeing. The conversations are engaging, relatable, and designed to challenge misconceptions while offering listeners practical, actionable solutions to take control of their gut health.
Meet the experts
“Listen to Your Gut” features an impressive line-up of guests, including Professor David Ray (from the University of Oxford), Professor Fergus Shanahan (University College Cork), Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas (Clinical Neuroscientist and Applied Microbiologist), and Nichola Ludlam-Raine, a practicing dietician and author of How Not to Eat Ultra-Processed.
Alongside these experts, listeners will hear from individuals living with gut conditions, including Caroline Bramwell, who transformed her life after being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis; Edward Adoo, radio DJ and broadcaster, who shares his experience with dietary changes, and Emily Williams and Jacquie Rees, both of whom offer personal stories of resilience.
Episodes now streaming
Here are details of each of the episodes — go check them out…
- Episode 1: What is Food?
Explore how ultra-processed foods impact gut health. Radio DJ Edward Adoo shares how changing his eating habits improved his gastric issues, while Nichola Ludlam-Raine explains the science behind ultra-processed foods and their effect on our gut microbiome. - Episode 2: IBD
Caroline Bramwell shares her journey of living with Ulcerative Colitis, from the challenges of raising a young family to becoming a triathlete post-surgery. Professor Shanahan dives into the science of Crohn’s and Colitis, offering insights into how individuals can manage these conditions. - Episode 3: Stress
In this episode we discuss the gut-mind axis. Emily shares her experience of living with stress related irritable bowel syndrome and how this reached its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Emily experienced amenorrhea. Dr Toribio-Mateas discusses the two-way relationship between mind and gut and how this impacts people with neurodivergences such as ADHD. - Episode 4: Sleep
Jacquie Rees tells us about living with gastritis, from childhood illness to impact on sleep and how it can change with other elements of life. Professor David Ray explains how gut-health and sleep are more related than we might think and explores how they are both in close alignment with our circadian rhythm. - Episode 5: Skin
We discuss how skin conditions could be affected by the gut microbiome alongside the skin’s own microbiome. Hear from Professor of Dermatology and British Skin Foundation Spokesperson Carsten Flohr on the gut-skin axis and Singer Songwriter Maggie Duffy on her experience of living with a skin condition and how this changed with the food she ate. - Episode 6: Shedding Light on the Dark Matter
In this episode ‘Shedding Light on the Dark Matter’ Evie explores the sensory side of eating and the gut microbiome – what is it? why is it now all the rage? Probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics. With Author (‘The Dark Matter – The New Science of the Microbiome’) and Microbiome scientist Dr James Kinross. Dr Kinross is a consultant surgeon at Imperial College, London and one of the world’s leading experts on the science of the microbiome —the complex ecosystem of bacteria, viruses and other microbes inside us. Evie also speaks candidly with Dominic Minghella, writer, creator and producer of internationally successful drama. - Episode 7: Gluten
In this episode we focus on all things gluten, aiming to clear up the differences between celiac disease, gluten intolerance/sensitivity, and wheat allergy. International expert on gluten Dr Alessio Fasano, Chief Science and Medical Officer at Mead Johnson Nutrition, joins us to help demystify why wheat might cause problems for some people. We hear from Emily Eekelschot, about her experience of living with coeliac disease, how this has impacted her life and what she is discovering about her own gut microbiome along the way. - Episode 8: Metabolism
In this episode Host Evie Whitehead explores gut health and metabolism. Joined by Professor Ana Valdes, expert in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, we delve into what metabolism is, how it relates to our gut health and how to take care of our metabolic health. Artist Frank Khamjani opens up about his experience of living with type-2 diabetes and how he turned to an improved diet and nutritional therapy to help manage his symptoms and optimise his outcome. - Episode 9: Depression
How much does what we eat impact our mental health and what role does the gut play in this? We ask these questions in this episode of Listen to Your Gut. Evie is joined by Dr Najaf Amin, Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, who shares her research on the interrelated nature of our gut microbiome and depression. Angie joins us from St Louis to share her experience of living with Crohn’s disease and how this has impacted her mental health. - Episode 10: Ageing
Should we be eating differently as we get older? Will my gut microbiome stay the same? In this episode, we sit down with Professor Marc Tatar from the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology at Brown University, to delve into what researchers are learning about how the gut microbiome might change as we age, and what this means for how we approach nutrition. Host Evie is also joined by Juliet, who shares how her gut health has changed as she has entered her mid-50s, and what steps she is taking to best manage it.
Why listen?
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, someone living with gut-related issues, or simply curious about how to support your health from the inside out, ‘Listen to Your Gut’ is for you. The series combines heartfelt personal stories with expert advice to create a podcast that’s equal parts informative and empowering.
The goal of understanding our bowels and gut health goes beyond personal wellbeing; by prioritising gut health, we not only improve individual quality of life but also alleviate broader societal challenges, such as reducing the burden on healthcare systems, promoting better education and awareness, and fostering more inclusive conversations around often-stigmatised health topics.
Understanding the gut-mind connection highlights the importance of accessible, nutrient-rich food systems, and sustainable dietary habits that encourage healthier eating practices.
Start your gut health journey today by tuning in to the first two episodes, available now.
This podcast series is for informational purposes only and not medical advice. Produced by the ITN Business commercial team as paid content for Yeo Valley, it is not created by ITN news staff. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any medical concerns. Do not substitute this content for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
