The Mind-Gut Conversation Podcast

Chronic pain is often treated as a problem to suppress with medication or surgery, but what if it’s actually a signal from a complex system that needs to be addressed holistically?
In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Jared E. Katz, author of Retrain the Brain: Self-Help for Traumatic Brain Injury and creator of the pain management app Painless. Jared’s story begins more than twenty years ago, when a traumatic brain injury left him with cognitive impairment and two rare, painful conditions: Chiari malformation and syringomyelia.
Rather than accepting a life defined by pain, Jared spent years quietly experimenting with how he eats,sleeps, moves, and thinks. He developed what he calls a “brain health algorithm” — a set of daily practices spanning nutrition, cognitive activity, movement, sleep, and social engagement. The result is not just a book, but a blueprint for anyone living with chronic pain or seeking to understand whatbrain health truly looks like in practice.
This episode is slightly different from our usual focus on the gut microbiome, but the principles align closely with the holistic, systems-based thinking Dr. Mayer teaches. Jared’s experience demonstrates that the brain is not a machine with one broken part — it’s a dynamic, interconnected system capable of adaptation and healing when given the right conditions.
Topics discussed include:
• What a “brain health lifestyle” actually involves
• How anti-inflammatory nutrition and eating patterns affectpain and cognition
• Why chronic pain requires addressing multiple systems, notjust one symptom
• How cognitive exercises like writing can help rewire thebrain
• The future of personalized pain management
This is a practical, deeply human conversation for anyoneinterested in chronic pain, brain health, and the power of self-directed healing.

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
6:04 - Jared's Story: The Injury & Living With Chronic Pain
11:30 - Nutrition, Diet & the WAH Principle
16:57 - The Painless App & the Future of Pain Management
22:30 - The Five Pillars of a Brain Health Lifestyle
27:48 - Resilience, Recovery & the Gut-Brain Connection
35:11 - Psychedelics, Neuroplasticity & Closing Thoughts

Menopause is often described as a simple decline in estrogen production, but emerging microbiome research suggests the story is far more complex.

In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Dr. David Meriwether, a scientist at UCLA’s Goodman Luskin Microbiome Center, to discuss the estrobolome — a specialized group of gut microbes that recycle and reactivate estrogen after it has been excreted by the body.

They explore how gut microbes may contribute to circulating estrogen levels even after menopause, why menopausal symptoms vary so widely among women, and how changes in the microbiome may create feedback loops that influence symptom severity. The discussion also places this research in the broader context of recent findings published in Nature linking the gut microbiome to health, aging, and disease.

This episode offers an in-depth, evidence-based look at a new biological framework for understanding menopause, and the potential for future non-hormonal strategies rooted in the brain–gut–microbiome system.

Topics discussed include:
• What the estrobolome is and why it matters
• How gut microbes recycle estrogen after menopause
• Why some women experience fewer menopausal symptoms than others
• The interaction between the gut, hormones, and aging
• Where microbiome-based therapies for menopause may be headed

This is a practical, science-driven discussion for anyone interested in women’s health, menopause, and the evolving role of the gut microbiome.

You can support & learn more about Dr. Meriwether's work here: https://themeriwetherlab.com/

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Connect with Dr. Mayer:
Website: https://www.emeranmayer.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emeranmayer/
X (Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/emeranmayermd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmeranMayerMD/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emeranmayer/

In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Tim Spector, MD, to discuss the implications of a landmark gut microbiome study involving more than 34,000 participants — one of the largest and most comprehensive efforts to date to understand what a “healthy” gut microbiome actually looks like.

Drawing from the study’s novel design and findings, they explore why defining gut health is far more complex than identifying a short list of “good” or “bad” microbes. The conversation unpacks what large-scale microbiome data can, and cannot tell us about health, disease prevention, and the growing interest in microbiome testing as a tool for personalized nutrition and healthcare.

Together, they examine the deep connections between diet and the microbiome, highlighting why dietary patterns, particularly fiber- and prebiotic-rich foods, may play a more meaningful role than many commonly marketed probiotic products. They also discuss the challenges of translating microbiome research into actionable guidance for consumers and clinicians, and why education and context are essential as microbiome testing becomes more widely available.

This wide-ranging discussion blends cutting-edge microbiome science with practical insight, offering a grounded perspective on where the field is headed and how emerging research may eventually shape everyday health decisions.

Topics discussed include:
• What a large-scale microbiome study reveals about gut health
• Why defining a “healthy” microbiome is more complex than expected
• The limitations of labeling microbes as simply good or bad
• The role of diet, fiber, and prebiotics in shaping the microbiome
• The promises and pitfalls of microbiome testing
• How microbiome research may influence future healthcare practices

This is a practical, evidence-based discussion for anyone interested in gut health, whether navigating dietary choices personally, exploring microbiome testing, or working in a clinical or research setting.

Please leave any comments or feedback on the episode — we’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
02:05 The Landmark Study Overview
05:29 Defining Healthy Gut Microbiomes
10:02 The Good vs. Bad Microbes
13:59 Implications for Diet and Health
18:37 The Role of Prebiotics and Probiotics
23:27 Future Directions in Microbiome Research
27:49 Challenges in Proving Causality
31:51 The Future of Gut Health Testing
36:36 Future Outlook in Traditional Medicine
40:10 Microbiome Testing in Clinical Practice
43:20 Regulation, Wellness, and Medical Use
46:10 Personalizing Diet Through the Microbiome
48:50 Final Reflections

In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Will Bulsiewicz, board-certified gastroenterologist, New York Times bestselling author, and one of today’s leading voices in microbiome science.

Drawing from his newest book, Plant-Powered Plus, Dr. Bulsiewicz explores why chronic, low-grade immune activation has become so widespread—and how modern lifestyles are keeping our immune system permanently switched on.

Together, they examine the deep connections between diet, the microbiome, the immune system, and inflammation, unpacking how evolutionary mismatches, ultra-processed foods, low fiber intake, chronic stress, and social disconnection are reshaping human health. The conversation moves beyond symptoms to address root causes, highlighting why restoring health requires rethinking how we eat, live, and connect.

This wide-ranging discussion blends cutting-edge science with clinical insight, offering a grounded, practical perspective on how small, sustainable changes can meaningfully reduce inflammation and support long-term well-being.

Topics discussed include:
• What inflammation really is—and why it’s no longer just an acute response
• How the gut microbiome and immune system interact
• The role of fiber, polyphenols, and microbial metabolites in regulating inflammation
• Why modern environments clash with human biology
• How lifestyle factors like stress, loneliness, and purpose influence immune health

This is a practical, evidence-based discussion for anyone seeking to understand how modern lifestyle factors shape immune health, inflammation, and long-term well-being.
Please leave any comments or feedback on the episode — we’d love to hear your thoughts.

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This episode is brought to you by Mayer Nutrition. If you are interested in trying Synaptic Bloom, our high-potency Quercetin + supporting polyphenols blend, you can visit mayernutrition.com, and use our exclusive podcast discount code: MINDGUT for 10% off your first order!

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Connect with Dr. Mayer:
Website: https://www.emeranmayer.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emeranmayer/
X (Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/emeranmayermd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmeranMayerMD/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emeranmayer/

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Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction
3:00 – Purpose, Medicine, and the Evolution of Gut Health
7:00 – What Inflammation Really Is
12:30 – Modern Life and the Immune System
18:00 – The Gut Microbiome and Immune Activation
26:00 – Diet, Fiber, and Microbial Health
38:21 – Mayer Nutrition
40:15 – Lifestyle, Stress, and Social Connection
49:00 – Technology, Medicine, and the Future of Health
1:05:00 – Practical Takeaways and Closing Reflections

In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Dr. Lauren DeDecker, a board-certified internal medicine physician with training in nutrition and integrative medicine, to explain how gut health is approached in real-world primary care.

They discuss why fiber and plant diversity remain foundational for digestive and metabolic health, how microbiome research reshaped modern medicine, and why popular diet trends often miss the bigger picture. The conversation also covers SIBO, common gut-related diagnoses, and how GLP-1 medications are changing what we understand about appetite, inflammation, and metabolism.

Key Topics Covered:
• Gut health and the brain-gut-microbiome system
• Fiber, fermented foods, and microbiome diversity
• SIBO, overdiagnosis, and gut symptoms
• Popular diets: carnivore, keto, Mediterranean
• GLP-1 medications, appetite regulation, and inflammation

This is a practical, evidence-based discussion for anyone interested in supporting gut health — whether navigating digestive concerns personally or working with patients in a clinical setting.

Please leave any comments or feedback on the episode — we’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Connect with Dr. Mayer:
Website: https://www.emeranmayer.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emeranmayer/X (Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/emeranmayermdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmeranMayerMD/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emeranmayer/

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Chapters:

0:00 – Introduction to Gut Health & Integrative Medicine
1:30 – From Conventional Medicine to Integrative Care
6:30 – Why Gut Health Became Mainstream (Microbiome Science)
12:30 – Fiber, Plant Diversity & Foundational Gut Health
18:45 – Diet Trends Explained: Carnivore, Keto & Mediterranean
22:30 – SIBO, Gut Symptoms & Overdiagnosis
31:45 – GLP-1 Medications, Appetite & Metabolism
41:15 – The Future of Gut Health & Lifestyle Medicine