Love & Guts – Details, episodes & analysis

Tara works with patients face-to-face and online globally, drawing from her hundreds of thyroid patients and also her own and one of her 3 children’s diagnosis of Hashimoto’s. Tara regularly mentors other health practitioners with their complex thyroid cases runs 2 thyroid practitioner training programs to educate and support practitioners in all areas of thyroid health, and offers a membership mentoring platform and group for ongoing practitioner support. Tara is a regular guest speaker on health and wellbeing podcasts, and professional organisations and companies.

• The link between the thyroid and gut, liver and gallbladder
• The link between thyroid disease and Lipid disorders
• The mechanism behind how hypothyroidism can increase the risk of gallstone formation
• How lack of T4 and compromised thyroid function contribute to constipation
• Which pathology tests Tara finds beneficial to identify areas that need addressing
• Treatment strategies
• Taras online programs and membership for practitioners

I can not tell you how excited I am to have Splash Blanket as our Love & Guts sponsor. If you’ve been following me for a while you know that I have many of these divine blankets and have been using them for intimacy, tummy time, and toilet training. The list goes on. So if you are sick of wet patches, spills, and stains ruining furniture, or bedding, say hello to your new best friend: Splash Blanket!"

"Although Splash Blanket burst onto the scene with their ingenious design for intimacy blankets—luxuriously soft and super sexy—it's not just for playtime in the bedroom. Splash Blanket is your go-to, versatile solution for a whole range of different situations."

 "Customers swear by it for birthing, postpartum recovery, free bleeding, free nappy time, and even for incontinence in both kids and the elderly. With Splash Blanket, mess worries are a thing of the past!"

"Birthing on the floor or bed and don't want to stain sheets or carpets? That's where Splash Blanket steps in, offering a soft, plush feel, perfect for welcoming your baby into the world. Why use a towel or hospital-grade cloth when you can wrap your little one in a cozy, snuggle-worthy, waterproof blanket swaddle?"

"Just to add to the already long list of uses, nappy-free tummy time is not only great for building your baby's neck strength but also beneficial if they have nappy rash and you want to give them some nappy-less time. And the fitted sheets? They're the golden ticket to easy cleanup during toilet training and nighttime accidents."

"If that hasn't convinced you, let's talk about the importance of mattress hygiene. With Splash Blanket, you can rest easy knowing your mattress is protected from spills and accidents. Plus, when staying at Airbnbs or hotels, always remember to lay down your Splash Blanket to safeguard bedding and mattresses."

To dive into the world of mess-proof living visit the splash blanket website today! And don't forget to use code GUT15 for an exclusive 15% off!"

#295 Rhiannon is a highly experienced, degree qualified naturopath and nutritionist, and practitioner educator. Specialising in all hormonal health issues including perimenopause, endometriosis, PCOS, PMS & PMDD, male & female infertility, IVF support, pregnancy care and postpartum & paediatric healthcare, Rhiannon and her team at RH: Reproductive Health expertly support couples and individuals in their efforts to navigate their specific circumstances.

RH:Reproductive health is committed to the successful integration of natural and conventional medicine, and believe ideal outcomes are achieved for patients when all their health care providers are working together. 

Rhiannon and her team regularly working alongside Melbourne’s top fertility doctors, obstetricians and gynaecologists to achieve the best outcomes for their patients. As testament to this, Rhiannon is routinely invited to present on the topic of collaborative patient care to medical professionals and naturopaths alike.

After nearly twenty years in busy clinical practice, Rhiannon provides professional mentoring and education for functional medicine practitioners in both group and individual settings. This highly specialised area is outside the scope of standard education and as such, her reproduction and hormonal masterclasses and mentoring programs are a rare opportunity for practitioners to further their skills.

In this episode, we cover:

• How perimenopause is diagnosed
• Markers of early change we may see in hormone pathology
• Strategies to implement throughout perimenopause to optimise hormones, minimise symptoms and improve long-term health outcomes.
• All things soy: should we be fearful of it? Common misconceptions. (safety, contraindications, benefits)
• Menopausal Hormone Therapy: What are the different types? (safety, efficacy, and indications)
• And so much more

I can not tell you how excited I am to have Splash Blanket as our Love & Guts sponsor. If you’ve been following me for a while you know that I have many of these divine blankets and have been using them for intimacy, tummy time, toilet training and the list goes on so if you are sick of wet patches, spills, and stains ruining furniture, bedding, and just being an overall bad vibe? Say hello to your new best friend: Splash Blanket!"

"Although Splash Blanket burst onto the scene with their ingenious design for intimacy blankets—luxuriously soft and super sexy—it's not just for playtime in the bedroom. Splash Blanket is your go-to, versatile solution for a whole range of different situations."

 "Customers swear by it for birthing, postpartum recovery, free bleeding, free nappy time, and even for incontinence in both kids and the elderly. With Splash Blanket, mess worries are a thing of the past!"

"Ready to make a splash with Splash Blanket? Dive into the world of mess-proof living by visiting their website today! And don't forget to use code GUT15 for an exclusive 15% off!"

#268 With over 15 years of industry experience, Jules has made it her mission to help people recover from fatigue, anxiety, burnout and complex health issues. She has guided thousands back to health through her eCourses, eBooks and podcast. She also sees clients 1:1 via Zoom.

As a mentor, she is passionate about inspiring and guiding the next generation of new and emerging practitioners to show up online and become confident in speaking out. Her dream is for ALL practitioners to be able to create a wildly successful and rewarding business they love… without burning out — and for our industry to be one that embraces collaboration and connection rather than competition.

When she’s not helping her clients, Jules can be found hanging out with her husband and their rescue dogs, lifting heavy things at the gym, surfing, doing yoga, or having a cheeky coffee or wine. Because fun, adventure and balance are just as important for a successful and long-lasting career.

You can find Jules at julesgalloway.com, on Facebook and Instagram at @julesgallowayhealth, her mentoring account is at @the.thriving.praccy, and check out her podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – just search for Straight Talking Natural Health.

In this episode we cover

• What anxiety is

• Why the incidence of anxiety has increased over the last 2-3 years

• What the underlying drivers of anxiety are

• We discuss the Gut-Brain axis and how this bidirectional relationship influences each other

• How anxiety impacts the gut and how the gut contributes to anxiety

• Assessments used

• And so much more

#267 Chloe is a Sydney-based Naturopath specialising in autoimmune health, fertility, gut & thyroid support. 

Chloe’s personal experience with autoimmunity set her on a path to better understand how the immune, gut, and nervous systems come together to create a perfect storm for autoimmune disease development. 

Over the past 10 years working in the health & wellness industry, Chloe has worked as a clinician, health writer & educator, facilitating programs and researching immune dysregulation. 

As a qualified Naturopath and yoga instructor, Chloe is also completing a Master’s of Biomedical Science in her endeavour to marry the mainstream medicine understanding of health with holistic naturopathic care. 

In this episode we cover

• What Inflammatory bowel disease is and how it differs from IBS
• The difference between Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
• Drivers of these diseases and why are they so difficult to treat
• Go to herbs for supporting IBD patients
• Other conditions that may occur alongside IBD
• How gut microbiome testing can be useful to support treatment
• Other investigations that may be carried out to diagnose IBD if suspected
• And so much more

#266 Dr. Brad Leech is an internationally recognised Integrative Medicine Practitioner with over 10 years of clinical experience. He has taught and developed subjects at leading academic institutions in Integrative Gastroenterology, Naturopathic Medicine, Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine, and Public Health Research. Dr. Brad Leech is the Clinical Science Lead at Microba, where his expertise in integrative gastrointestinal healthcare enables him to translate the latest science on the gut microbiome into practical clinical applications. In addition to his research and working with patients, Brad offers practitioner support through his mentoring program Brad’s Brainiacs. 

In this episode we cover

• A summary of different testing methods used to identify the microbiome and pathogens
• The latest research on antimicrobials and the microbiome
• How we can use this research in clinical practice
• How clinicians can safely and effectively use antimicrobials in clinical practice
• Herbs that Brad would potentially avoid using altogether as the Risk is not worth the benefit
• Herbs that nourish the microbiome
• And so much more

#265 Dr Jason Hawrelak is a research scientist, educator, naturopath, and Western herbalist with more than 18 years of clinical experience. Jason practices at Goulds Natural Medicine, a 136-year-old natural medicine apothecary, and clinic located in central Hobart. He did his Honours and PhD degrees examining the causes of dysbiosis and the capacity of probiotics, prebiotics, and herbal medicines to modify the gut microbiome and has written extensively in the medical literature on these topics – including 16 textbook chapters.

He is on the Medical Nutrition Council of the American Society for Nutrition and was recently awarded a Fellowship from the American College of Nutrition for his significant contributions to the teaching and practice of nutrition in Australia and North America. Jason is also a Fellow of the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia. He is Chief Research Officer at ProbioticAdvisor.com, which offers a searchable database that enables easy, evidence-based prescribing of probiotic products and online resources for clinicians, and health-conscious members of the public, to learn more about the human microbiome and how they can positively influence these ecosystems.

• What is diverticula, diverticulosis, diverticulitis and diverticular disease
• Common causes of diverticulosis and why it might progress to diverticulitis or diverticular disease
• How to differentiate between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Symptomatic uncomplicated DD (SUDD)
• The link between cardiovascular health and diverticular disease
• We address what diet may help support those experiencing these conditions and this includes eliminating old beliefs associated with diet 
• What are our main treatment aims
• And so much more
• I highly recommend Jason’s practitioner training on this subject Diverticular Disease: New Concepts in its Pathophysiology and Treatment

#264 Dr. Paula Smith-Brown is the Clinical Science Lead at Microba and an Adjunct Lecturer at Centre for Microbiome Research at The Queensland University of Technology. She is a PhD qualified Accredited Practising Dietitian who combines her experience as a microbiome researcher and healthcare professional to translate the latest science on the gut microbiome into practical clinical application. 

In this episode we cover

• How microbial dysbiosis plays a role in IBS
• If the microbiome is different in those with IBS
• The impact a low FODMAP diet has on the microbiome
• FODMAP food reintroduction. How to tackle this if a patient has been on a low fodmap diet for some time
• If we can predict a response to a low FODMAP diet based on microbiome
• Strategies and interventions
• And so much more

#263 Best Of 2022. Dr. Drossman received gastroenterology training at the University of North Carolina where he founded the UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders. Dr Drossman is currently the Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Psychiatry in Gastroenterology at UNC. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Master of the American College of Gastroenterology, Past-President of the American Psychosomatic Society (1997). Dr. Drossman has established multiple organizations to advance patient-centered education and treatment of Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI). He founded the Rome Foundation, and served as president until 2019, and is currently the President Emeritus and Chief of Operations. He has served as Senior Editor of Rome I, II, III, IV and is co-senior editor of Rome V to be released in 2026. 

As a gastroenterologist, Dr. Drossman consults or manages the care of difficult-to-diagnose and -treat patients with DGBIs. As Founder and President of DrossmanCare (Center for Education and Practice of Biopsychosocial Care) Dr. Drossman produces educational materials to teach communication skills and patient-centered care. He has published peer-reviewed articles and videotapes on medical interviewing and the patient-doctor relationship. He also facilitates workshops and communication skills training programs and has received numerous awards, as an educator and practitioner.

 Most recently he co-authored a book with a patient advocate called Gut Feelings: Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction and the Patient-Doctor Relationship for patients and clinicians. Dr. Drossman has written over 500 articles and book chapters serves on six editorial and advisory boards, was Associate Editor of the journal Gastroenterology and was the Gastroenterology Section Editor of the Merck Manual for 17 years. His research relates to the clinical, epidemiological, psychosocial, and treatment aspects of gastrointestinal disorders, and he has been principal investigator in several NIH-funded epidemiological outcomes, clinical trials, and abuse grants in DGBI and has done brain imaging in IBS.

In this episode we cover:

• What is constipation
• The different types of constipation - including primary and secondary
• Dyssynergic defecation - drivers and signs and symptoms 
• What investigations are carried out by a gastroenterologist to confirm this
• Treatments commonly recommended or administered by gastroenterologists or GI motility specialists
• Why effective communication skills and patient-centered care are needed
• What are some ways that patients can improve their communication with doctors
• Get your hands on the book Gut feelings
• And so much more

#262 Shivan is a tenacious seeker of truth, educator, health advocate, and community builder. Shivan wasn’t willing to let gut problems rule her life—and she doesn't want that for you, either hence why she created the Digestion SOS™ Documentary Series, The SIBO Recovery Roadmap® Course, The IBS & SIBO SOS® Summits, The Gut & Microbiome Rescue Summit, The Lymphatic Rescue Summit, The Dental Health Connection Summit, The Liver & Gallbladder Rescue Summit, The Fascia Summit and now the book, Healing SIBO.

• Shivans experience with SIBO and how she came to host some amazing health and well-being summits.
• What SIBO SOS is
• Advancements in SIBO that Shivan is excited by
• How Shivan has managed her SIBO
• What Shivan wants all SIBO patients to know
• Who Healing SIBO is for

#261 Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and bestselling author of the books Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual — practical guides to treating period problems with nutrition, supplements, and body-identical hormones. A graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (1997) and the University of Calgary (evolutionary biology), Lara serves on several scientific advisory committees including The Centre for Ovulation and Menstruation Research (CeMCOR) at the University of British Columbia.

She is a popular speaker and has delivered keynote presentations for the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA), the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS), the University of Otago, Endometriosis New Zealand, Endometriosis Association of Queensland (QENDO), and the Evolutionary Health Society of New Zealand (EHA). Lara currently has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone and period-related health problems.

Kira Sutherland is a Naturopathic Sports Nutritionist to some of the world's best athletes. She also lectures and mentors upcoming practitioners in the field of sports nutrition, and offers online courses for supporting athletes, trainers, and sports enthusiasts how to nourish the body to achieve peak performance and fitness.

Using her 25+ years of clinical experience she has combined her knowledge of Naturopathic medicine with education in sports nutrition to create a truly wholistic approach to optimising performance for athletes and those striving for optimum health - especially women. Having lectured both within Australia and internationally on all things Naturopathic and sports nutrition, she is passionate about teaching people to take care of their bodies for the long term, not just treating them in the present moment. Kira believes that the role of a practitioner is to empower and teach clients to take care of themselves, to give them as much knowledge as possible.

In this episode we cover

• The missing health science for mid-life women and the science sex gap 
• The dynamics between insulin, mitochondria, and cellular metabolism
• How the nutritional advice often suggested for men and young women does not always apply to mid-life women
• The role of muscle and mitochondria in health and metabolism
• Updated weight loss strategies for women over 40
• If the ketogenic diet or intermittent fasting is appropriate for this demographic
• The metabolic Health and Vitality for Women Over 40 online course. How you access it?
• And so much more