Inside Matters

In this episode of Inside Matters, Dr James McIlroy explores the remarkable evolution of Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT), from its unlikely beginnings to its promising future—and shares exciting new data from his company, EnteroBiotix. We begin with the pioneering efforts of Mr Ben Eisman in 1958, whose early use of FMT saved lives in cases of severe diarrhoea. From there, Dr McIlroy takes us through decades of progress, culminating in today's pharmaceutical-grade approaches that are changing the face of gut health treatment. The conversation spotlights the dramatic effectiveness of FMT in tackling recurrent Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infections and dives into the expanding potential of microbiome therapies for a range of conditions. James also shares exclusive insights from EnteroBiotix’s recent phase 2 trial, which delivered encouraging results for a next-generation, FMT-based therapy targeting Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Designed to be scalable, consistent, and patient-friendly, this new approach marks a significant step forward in microbiome medicine. This episode is a deep dive into one of the most fascinating areas of modern healthcare—and a look at where we're headed next. Timestamps: 00:00 – The pioneering work of Mr Ben Eisman 01:55 – Understanding C. difficile and FMT 03:03 – Modern breakthroughs in FMT 05:06 – Challenges and innovations 07:25 – EnteroBiotix’s next-generation solution 11:12 – Clinical trials and promising data 14:04 – What the future holds for FMT 17:05 – Final thoughts

In a fascinating conversation with Professor Max Nieuwdorp of the Amsterdam Medical Centre, Dr James McIlroy explores groundbreaking ideas and research surrounding the microbiome, hormones, and their profound impact on metabolic diseases. This insightful dialogue uncovers the remarkable potential of faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) and emerging pharmaceutical strategies in tackling obesity, diabetes, and even cancer. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Professor Max and the Podcast 02:04 Max's Journey into Microbiome Research 05:06 The Power of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) 08:11 Microbiome's Role in Obesity and Metabolic Health 10:42 Challenges and Future Directions in Microbiome Research 14:47 Defining Obesity and Its Genetic Factors 18:39 FMT and Its Impact on Various Diseases 23:48 Optimal Diet for a Healthy Microbiome 31:07 The Power of Combining Probiotics 31:36 The GLP-1 Story: A Deep Dive 32:30 Mechanisms and Effects of GLP-1 Drugs 37:26 The Role of Microbiome in Weight Management 39:18 Selecting the Best Donor for FMT 42:27 Impact of Diet on Microbiome and Health 50:17 Future of Microbiome Research and Therapies 56:13 The Power of Hormones: Book Insights The Journey into Microbiome Research Professor Nieuwdorp's interest in the microbiome began serendipitously during his postdoctoral studies at UCSD. There, he encountered revolutionary ideas, particularly through the work of Jeffrey Gordon, which highlighted the significance of the microbiome long before it became widely acknowledged. An unforgettable early success with FMT on a patient with Clostridium difficile infection set the foundation for his enduring commitment to this field. Over the years, Nieuwdorp has been involved in pivotal studies, evolving his understanding of how microbiome therapies could be used in metabolic diseases and beyond. Understanding FMT and Its Role FMT has shown remarkable efficacy, especially in treating infections like Clostridium difficile. The discussion highlights an astounding 90% cure rate demonstrated in early trials, a feat Nieuwdorp describes as "seminal". Nonetheless, expanding this success to metabolic conditions such as obesity and autoimmune diseases remains a promising, yet ongoing, challenge. The Nexus Between Microbiome and Obesity While the connection between the microbiome and obesity remains a complex issue, Nieuwdorp emphasises how the microbiome's role in weight control is likely more significant over the long term—akin to directing an oil tanker—than as a quick fix. The conversation delves into why the body finds it easier to gain weight than to lose it, considering genetic predispositions and evolutionary pressures. This adaptability of the microbiome, combined with dietary habits, may significantly influence how our bodies metabolise and store energy. Revolutionary Treatments on the Horizon Emerging pharmacological treatments such as GLP-1 agonists are causing waves in medicine. These drugs, alongside the potential of next-generation probiotics, promise to reshape how obesity and associated conditions are treated. Intriguingly, research continues to suggest the microbiome might itself produce GLP-1, hinting at a future where therapies target these microbial mechanisms directly. The Path Forward: Microbiome as a Predictive Tool Professor Nieuwdorp envisions a future where microbiome profiling becomes a standard diagnostic and preventative tool. It has the potential to predict disease susceptibility, allowing for earlier and more personalised interventions. In parallel, the continued development of FMT and its derivatives may revolutionise treatments for a range of conditions, from cancer to metabolic disorders. The Educational Perspective: "The Power of Hormones" In addition to his pioneering research, Nieuwdorp shares insights in his book, The Power of Hormones, presenting a layperson’s guide to understanding hormones across a lifespan. This book interweaves historical narratives with...

Exploring the Human Microbiome with Dr. Joël Doré: The Future of Gut Health Science In this episode of Inside Matters, Dr James McIlroy engages in an enlightening conversation with Dr. Joël Doré, Research Director at the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (NRAE). With over 40 years of experience in microbiome research, Dr. Doré shares his extensive knowledge on probiotics, gut health protocols, at-home microbiome testing, and the gut-brain axis. The discussion delves into the intricacies of the human microbiome symbiosis, the evolutionary development of gut microbiota, and its impact on health conditions such as obesity and chronic diseases. Dr. Doré also sheds light on innovative treatments like faecal microbiota transfer and the significance of microbial diversity for a healthy gut. Tune in to discover how the future of medicine and nutrition hinges on understanding and leveraging the microbial human. Takeaways Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Joël Doré and Microbiome Research 00:32 Exploring Probiotics and Gut Health Protocols 00:49 At-Home Microbiome Testing: Strengths and Limitations 01:38 Understanding the Human Microbiome Symbiosis 02:48 The Role of Gut Microbiota in Health and Disease 08:18 Microbiome Development from Birth 11:08 Impact of Birth Methods and Early Life on Microbiome 12:00 Antibiotics and Microbiome Diversity 17:48 Challenges in Defining a Healthy Microbiome 24:38 At-Home Microbiome Testing: Current State and Future Directions 32:51 Microbiome and Obesity: Insights from Research 34:21 Microbiome and Immunotherapy: Potential and Challenges 39:02 Prognostic Model and Microbiota Transfer 40:21 Mad Pharma: Pioneering Fecal Microbiota Transfer 41:50 Autologous and Allogenic Microbiota Transfer 43:53 Challenges and Innovations in Microbiota Transfer 51:25 Probiotics: Do They Work? 01:01:50 The Best Diet for the Microbiome 01:03:00 The 100,000 Microbiome Project 01:08:13 The Gut-Brain Connection 01:12:58 Vision for the Future of Microbiome Research 01:14:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, James discusses the progress and future of EnterBiotix, a company focused on gut health and microbiome therapeutics. He reflects on the transformative year of 2024, highlighting significant milestones in clinical trials, particularly in liver disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). James emphasizes the importance of clinical data in drug development and the company's commitment to improving patient care through innovative therapies. He also shares insights on the connection between gut health and overall well-being, and the company's plans for future growth and regulatory engagement. Takeaways: Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:19 Overview of Enterobiotics 01:13 Reflecting on 2024 Achievements 02:00 Clinical Trials and Milestones 04:16 Liver Cirrhosis Trial Insights 08:07 IBS Clinical Trial Success 11:52 Future Prospects and Goals 14:45 Conclusion and Gut Health Tips

In a conversation with Dr. James Kinross, a senior lecturer and consultant surgeon at Imperial College London, various aspects of the human microbiome are explored. He is also the author of "Dark Matter: The New Science of the Microbiome". Dr. Kinross discusses what constitutes a healthy microbiome and the challenges in analyzing it. The conversation also covers new research linking microbiomes to the effectiveness of cancer drugs, the concept of an 'internal climate crisis' within our guts, and the importance of the early life microbiome. Furthermore, Dr. Kinross shares practical advice on diet, probiotics, and the impact of social interactions on gut health. The dialogue concludes with insights into microbiome testing and its crucial role in both clinical settings and personal health management. Key Takeaways: Microbiome Complexity: The microbiome is like a newly discovered organ, vital for health but complex to define and influence. Understanding it is crucial for advancing medical science. Diet and Diversity: A diverse diet rich in plant fibres supports a flourishing microbiome, which can protect against chronic diseases. Targeted Therapies: Probiotics and microbial therapies hold promise but require more precise application and understanding to be truly effective. Prevention Focus: The most significant potential of microbiome science lies in disease prevention, particularly through early-life interventions. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dr. James Kinross and His Work 00:27 Exploring the Microbiome: Definitions and Challenges 00:46 Microbiome and Cancer Research 00:54 Analogies and Concepts in Microbiome Science 01:56 The Dog Microbiome: Insights and Comparisons 07:17 Microbiome Bubble: Hype or Reality? 12:09 The Importance of Microbial Conservationism 20:52 Antibiotics and Microbiome Scarring 28:00 Co-Evolution of Microbes and Humans 37:33 Practical Advice for Improving Your Microbiome 41:07 Understanding Biodiversity and Microbiome Health 41:48 Defining a Healthy Microbiome 42:28 Challenges in Microbiome Diagnostics 46:03 The Role of Diet and Antibiotics 51:51 The Controversy of Probiotics 58:08 Microbiome Testing in Clinical Practice 01:06:31 Microbiome's Impact on Drug Efficacy 01:11:14 Future of Microbiome Therapeutics 01:15:04 Practical Advice and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Inside Matters, Dr. James McIlroy is joined by Professor Anthony Hobson, founder and CEO of the Functional Gut Clinic. They discuss gut health diagnostics and treatments, focusing on the evolution of gut health understanding and therapies. Key topics include microbiome diagnostic testing, the importance of understanding gut functions, the impact of lifestyle on gut health, and the efficacy of various treatments for conditions like IBS and SIBO. The conversation also covers the development of non-invasive testing methods, the role of the second brain in gut health, and future directions for the Functional Gut Clinic and the field of digestive health. Takeaways 00:00 Introduction to Professor Anthony Hobson and the Functional Gut Clinic 00:54 The Importance of Gut Health and Functional Testing 01:23 Building the Functional Gut Clinic and TummyMOT Initiative 02:03 Listener Engagement and Podcast Support 02:40 Defining Gut Health and Its Importance 04:05 Challenges in Gut Health Diagnosis and Treatment 09:32 The Brain-Gut Connection and Sensitisation Studies 13:06 The Role of Breathing Techniques and Hypnotherapy 17:57 Debunking Myths and Raising Standards in Gut Health 27:23 Fundamentals of Maintaining Good Gut Health 35:34 Understanding the Migrating Motor Complex 36:36 Spacing Out Meals for Gut Health 37:27 The Role of Coffee in Digestion 37:58 Exploring Leaky Gut Syndrome 44:18 Alcohol and Gut Health 48:41 The Fascinating Proximal Colon 01:04:29 Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) 01:13:24 Future of Digestive Health and Functional Gut Clinic

In this conversation, Dr James McIlroy and Emma Storey-Gordon discuss common myths and misconceptions surrounding health, fitness, and nutrition. They explore the law of diminishing returns in exercise, the latest science in nutrition including fasting and protein consumption, and the importance of meal timing and insulin sensitivity. Emma shares practical advice on setting nutrition targets, the gradual increase of fibre intake for gut health, and the role of supplements. They also touch on the individualized approach needed for training during menopause and the importance of community in building a successful health and fitness business. Takeaways Just do something, just move. The law of diminishing returns applies to exercise. Meal timing can impact insulin sensitivity. Setting realistic nutrition targets is crucial. Gradually increase fibre intake to avoid discomfort. Personalized nutrition is often marketed but not always practical. Exercise has profound effects on mental health. Community and environment play a key role in business success. You need to treat individuals as unique cases in health. Start slow but keep it engaging to avoid boredom. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Health Myths and Misconceptions 03:01 The Law of Diminishing Returns in Exercise 05:56 Nutrition Science: Fasting and Protein Consumption 09:08 The Importance of Meal Timing and Insulin Sensitivity 11:58 Practical Nutrition: Setting Targets for Protein and Veggies 14:52 Gut Health: Building Up Fiber Intake Gradually 17:52 The Role of Supplements and Personalized Nutrition 20:59 The Impact of Exercise on Mental and Physical Health 23:44 Menopause: Individualized Approaches to Training 27:01 Building a Business in Health and Fitness 29:53 The Importance of Community and Environment in Business 32:47 Final Thoughts on Health, Nutrition, and Business

In the latest episode of Biome Bites, Dr James McIlroy returns after a hiatus to share valuable insights into gut health. Learn about the significant role of polyphenol-rich foods such as dark chocolate, green tea, and berries, and how incorporating them can benefit your gut microbiome. The episode also delves into the importance of meal spacing for digestive health and introduces the diaphragmatic breathing technique, which can reduce stress and improve gut function. Tune in to discover practical tips to enhance your gut health and overall well-being. 00:00 Welcome Back to Inside Matters 00:18 Introduction to Gut Health 00:33 Tip 1: Incorporate Polyphenol Rich Foods 02:09 Key polyphenol-rich Foods 04:51 Tip 2: Space Out Your Meals 07:35 Tip 3: Engage in Belly Breathing 10:01 Conclusion and Recap Welcome Back to Inside Matters: Boost Your Gut Health with These Three Essential Tips Hello to all our Inside Matters listeners! After a brief hiatus, I'm excited to return and dive into one of our favorite topics: gut health. Today, I'm sharing three essential gut health tips, rooted in personal experience and backed by science, to help you enhance your overall wellness. #### Tip 1: Incorporate Polyphenol-Rich Foods Polyphenols have been a recurring topic on our podcast, and for good reason. As one of the three Ps—prebiotics, probiotics, and polyphenols—they play a critical role in promoting gut health. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants found in many plant-based foods. They encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while suppressing harmful varieties. **The Science Behind Polyphenols** Animal studies and human observational evidence demonstrate that polyphenols can significantly impact the microbiome. Notably, blue zones—regions of the world with high concentrations of centenarians—feature diets rich in polyphenols. When polyphenols reach the colon, gut bacteria metabolize them into bioactive compounds, fostering a symbiotic relationship that leads to numerous health benefits. **Key Polyphenol-Rich Foods** 1. **Dark Chocolate**: High-cacao, low-sugar dark chocolate is not only delicious but also loaded with flavonoids, a type of polyphenol that supports gut bacteria diversity. 2. **Green Tea**: Rich in catechins, green tea can positively influence gut bacteria and reduce inflammation. It's also associated with a broad array of health benefits. 3. **Berries**: My personal favourites—blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries—are packed with anthocyanins that benefit gut health. These berries are true superfoods, rich in vitamins and minerals. For optimal health, integrate these foods into your daily routine. For instance, enjoy a piece of dark chocolate post-exercise or start your day with a punnet of blueberries and raspberries. 4. **Olive Oil**: Rich in various polyphenols, including oleuropein, olive oil nourishes gut bacteria and protects against oxidative stress. Use it as your primary cooking fat and for salad dressings, ensuring you choose high-quality, extra virgin olive oil from reputable sources. Tip 2: Consider Spacing Out Your Meals Frequent eating and constant snacking can disrupt the migrating motor complex (MMC)—a recurring pattern that occurs in the stomach and small intestine during fasting periods. This "cleansing wave" moves undigested food and bacteria through the digestive tract, preventing the buildup of harmful substances. **Why Spacing Meals Matters** Allowing time between meals helps avoid issues like bloating, gas, and digestive discomfort. The classic advice is to wait three to four hours between meals. Personally, I have a large breakfast or brunch post-exercise, a healthy snack like a high-quality protein bar, and a substantial dinner. This eating pattern supports my nutritional needs and ensures I'm not feeling hungry before bed. Tip 3: Engage in Belly Breathing Diaphragmatic breathing, or belly breathing, is a simple yet powerful technique that stimulates the vagus nerve,...

In this Biome Bite, Dr James McIlroy 3 myths and misconceptions about the gut microbiome. Timecodes: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:56 Weight of the microbiome 00:04:39 We’re more microbial than human 00:07:00 Microbiota is inherited from our mothers What we're talking about today on this Biome Bite is microbiome myths and misconceptions. We're going to cover 3. There's this lovely article written by Professor Alan Walker, who's been on the podcast, highly recommend you watch and listen to that episode, and Professor Leslie Hoyles and it's in Nature Microbiology, so really nice high-impact scientific journal, and they go through a lot of the things which you hear within this space, be it in social media, be it in when you're speaking to someone who's just generally taking an interest in the microbiome, even in scientific papers, this still comes up, even though it's been refuted and proven to be untrue. Arming Our Listeners With Facts About the Microbiome So we're going to arm you as the listeners to Inside Matters with this knowledge so that you can truly start to become an expert and you've got your finger on the pulse of the field. And if you hear it, you go, I heard on inside matters. That's not true. So the first one is the human microbiota weighs one to two kg. You hear this a lot, several kilograms, almost like a weight plate at the gym. Wow, that's a lot. Now although it's mentioned many times in literature, although you hear people talking about it, people say it weighs as much as a grapefruit. And what the professors do in their papers, they explain that. The majority of the microorganisms reside within the colon, i. e. the large intestine. And if you've listened to the previous Biome Bites episode, we walk through the digestive tract, the gut, what the gut is, what the digestive system is, how it all links together and how the microbiota fits into all of that. And in that episode, if you've not listened to it, what we say is that the vast majority of the microbiota, i.e. the microorganisms, particularly bacteria that reside within the body live in the large intestine. And what's interesting is when you take a stool sample, or we can just use the other word, a poo the microorganisms typically account for roughly 50% of the weight of the faecal solid mass. This has been published, but also we've done a lot of stool collection and stool analysis in EnteroBiotix. In fact, we may collect more stool regularly and analyze stool in a more in-depth manner than anyone else in the world at the moment. So we know a fair bit about it. How Heavy is the Microbiome? The size, shape, mass, and composition of stool can vary within an individual and also differ among various people. According to the paper, an average human stool typically weighs less than 200 grams when wet. However, in our experience, we have observed significant variations, which makes it a likely accurate statement. And when you're running a donor program like EnteroBiotix, you actually want to target people who donate larger amounts, but also who have a good ratio of microorganisms versus solids. And that's driven by fibre and fibre content. Now, they say a really interesting paper in patients or people, unfortunately, who have had a sudden death. The human microbiota, particularly the gut microbiota, plays a crucial role in maintaining our health. The weight of these microorganisms has been the subject of many studies, and recent findings suggest that the total weight is likely to be less than previously thought. In sudden death cases, post-mortem assessments of the total colonic contents have shown a range between 83 to 421 grams. This data challenges earlier estimates that placed the weight of the human microbiota in the range of one to two kilograms. Researchers concluded that barring unusual instances of severe constipation, where an individual's colon is compacted with a large amount of faecal matter, the total weight of the gut microbiota is more likely...

In this episode of Biome Bites, we go back to basics to cover the overall importance of gut health while addressing some common misconceptions and myths. 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:44 Importance of gut microbiome 00:02:22 Misinformation addressed 00:04:21 Gut health is more than the stomach 00:08:12 Different bacteria in the gut 00:10:31 Functions of the gut 00:13:08 Microbial metabolism 00:14:04 Traditional wisdom

The following is a conversation with Dr. Momo Vuyisich, co-founder and chief scientific officer at Viome. Viome is a life sciences company that analyses the activities in your oral microbiome, gut microbiome, and blood using RNA, essentially measuring gene expression. This gives the company the ability to be able to assess what the microbiome in these various areas of the body is doing and gives insights into potentially how that links to diseases, which gives you personalised recommendations for how to improve your microbiomes through your environment. So basically your diet. Their vision is that in the future, through the analysis of all of this data, they're able to make predictive bets on who is at higher risk of developing particular diseases and issues due to the composition and function of the microbiome. Momo is an amazing communicator. You'll learn about. the microbiome and its importance in gut health. You'll hear about his own story in terms of how he managed to cure chronic disease through his own diet. You'll hear about his vision for Viome, how the pharma industry works in his opinion, and how things are going to improve over the coming decades. Fascinating discussion, I enjoyed it. I wanted to thank Momo for coming on as such a busy person. Now, with the introduction done, I wanted to say thank you to all of our listeners for supporting the podcast. Some of you are listening to every single episode and sending feedback about the episode, what you liked, what you didn't like, and what you learned. We've been going now for a year and a half. And we're loving every single moment and the feedback from listeners makes it all worthwhile. So if you're enjoying it and you haven't yet liked and subscribed, please hover your finger over that button and give us a five-star review. 00:00:00 Intro 00:05:27 Momo’s vision 00:08:08 Is science improving human health? 00:15:58 Applying science to big health problems 00:18:11 Human genome 00:27:46 Vaccines with probiotics? 00:36:27 Is the microbiome undervalued? 00:45:59 Next gen RNA sequencing 00:52:37 Building Viome 00:58:34 Preventing all disease through diet 01:00:41 Sialic acids 01:11:16 Food industry 01:14:24 Importance of sleep

The following is a conversation with Professor Jack Gilbert, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, along with his many other very interesting titles and job roles. This includes the co-founder of the Earth Microbiome Project, the American Gut Project, and also featured in the very popular recent Netflix documentary, Hack Your Health. He is a master of the microbiome. We covered all aspects of the microbiome, the ocean, the soil, how it could impact climate change, and gut health, responses to drugs. Takeaways 00:00 Introduction to Professor Jack Gilbert and his work 02:20 The impact of the microbiome on climate change 04:16 The role of diet in promoting a beneficial microbiome 07:03 Precision ecology: Understanding the dynamic nature of the microbiome 09:23 Challenges and solutions in promoting behaviour change for microbiome health 17:52 The importance of time in studying the microbiome 30:08 Parallels and commonalities between different microbiomes 39:19 The future of microbiome research and therapies 44:59 Probiotic Building Materials 48:33 Revolutionizing Microbiome Sample Collection 56:55 Microbiome-Based Therapies for IVF Success 01:09:29 Addressing Climate Change through Microbiology 01:19:21 Urgent Action and Application of Microbial Therapies 01:23:01 The Gut-Brain Axis and Mental Health

Learn more about this episode's guest and the topics discussed - https://insidematters.health/ In this conversation, Dr James McIlroy and Mads Friis discuss the fundamentals of health and wellness. They cover topics such as mindset, sleep, diet, alcohol, and the importance of social relationships. Mads emphasizes the importance of eating real food, including fruits, vegetables, and berries. He also highlights the significance of getting enough protein and staying hydrated. While alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation, it is not recommended for optimal sleep quality. The conversation emphasizes the need to focus on the fundamentals of health before diving into more advanced biohacking techniques. In this conversation, Mads discusses the importance of sleep and the limitations of sleep trackers. He emphasizes the need for balance in biohacking and the importance of focusing on the fundamentals of health. He also criticizes the food industry and the misinformation surrounding nutrition. Mads shares his insights on movement, light exposure, and the benefits of cold water immersion, sauna, and breathwork. He concludes by discussing his book on habits and his future plans in the biohacking space. Takeaways Focus on the fundamentals of health, including mindset, sleep, diet, exercise, social relationships, and hydration. Eat real food that your grand grandma would recognise as food. Ensure you are getting enough protein to support your body's needs. Moderate alcohol consumption and be mindful of its impact on sleep quality. Prioritize social connections and relationships for overall well-being. Start with the basics before diving into advanced biohacking techniques. Sleep trackers may not provide accurate information about sleep stages, and focusing too much on sleep data can lead to unnecessary stress. Biohacking should be approached with balance and not become an obsession. It's important to focus on the fundamentals of health, such as movement, light exposure, and proper nutrition. The food industry plays a significant role in the current health crisis, and there is a need for more education and awareness about healthy eating. Cold water immersion, sauna, and breathwork can have various health benefits, but it's important to find the right balance and not overdo it. Mads has written a book on habits and plans to explore other topics in the future, such as sleep, biohacking, and longevity Timecodes: Introduction to Mads Friis and his journey 02:29 The State of Health and Wellness 04:28 The Fundamentals of Health: Mindset, Sleep, Diet, Movement, Social Relationships 07:50 Mads Friis' Journey and Entrepreneurship 09:47 The Importance of Getting the Fundamentals Right 14:16 Cutting-Edge Biohacking and Individual Differences 20:05 The Role of Diet: Eating Real Food and Protein Intake 25:24 The Controversy of Alcohol and the Importance of Hydration 32:05 The Impact of Alcohol on Sleep Quality 36:29 Mindset and Enjoyment of Healthy Choices 39:45 The Limitations of Sleep Trackers 42:04 The Importance of Balance in Biohacking 44:15 The Fundamentals of Health 46:26 Exploring Cold Water Immersion, Sauna, and Breathwork 48:01 The Role of Supplements and the Food Industry 53:42 The Benefits of Movement and Light Exposure 55:53 Finding the Right Balance in Biohacking 58:19 The Influence of the Food Industry 01:08:38 Exploring Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers and Other Biohacks 01:15:42 Mads's Book on Habits and Future Plans You must not rely on the information in this video as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment...

The following is a conversation with Dr. Jenna Macciochi, an immunologist, twice-published author, TEDx speaker, public speaker, and all-around immune system expert. It was an absolute pleasure and honour to have her in the studio today to talk about all things immune system. gut health, the microbiome, and even things like how do we improve the health of society more generally. Jenna truly is an expert. She's amazing at communicating and breaking down complicated concepts so that they're easy to understand for the listener. I learned an absolute ton over the course of this conversation and I'm sure you will too. If you have an interest in the immune system, why you catch a cold, what you can do to maybe prevent you from getting a cold, how to keep your immune system in top shape, how it changes as you age, and just more generally how to live a longer, healthier, happier life, you're going to get something out of today's conversation. Timecodes: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:55 Interest in the immune system 00:05:04 Science of staying well 00:09:08 Avoiding burn out 00:16:45 Immune system components 00:20:41 “I never get sick” 00:24:50 Not catching a cold 00:35:15 What’s important for immune system 00:43:36 Immune system age 00:49:05 Taking supplements 00:51:03 How important is sleep? 01:00:18 Strong immune system in children 01:03:09 Stress and the immune system 01:05:01 Social media misconceptions 01:14:21 Importance of making food 01:18:07 Link between microbiome and immune health 01:22:28 Helping children eat healthily

The following is a conversation with Dr Saman Maleki, associate professor at Western University with a special focus on oncology, immuno oncology, microbiology, and everything to do with the immune system and the microbiome. Dr Maleki is a pioneer and a world leader in the field of sensitising tumours to immunotherapy through modulating the microbiome. During this conversation, we talked about the state of the art associated with the microbiome and cancer. So if you're interested in how cancer impacts the microbiome and how the microbiome impacts cancer you should listen to this episode. We delved into what the latest evidence is for the use of FMT in making a particular type of cancer therapy called immunotherapy better for treating particular cancers. We talked about the journey from doing the first trials to the area where they are now, which is raising funds to do much larger trials that should definitively prove that changing the microbiome can massively improve response rates to cancer therapies. Even as someone who's got their finger on the pulse of this field, I left the conversation enthusiastic and excited about the potential in the future for developing efficient microbiome treatments to tackle cancer. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:38 First interest in the microbiome 00:05:46 FMT for C-Diff patients 00:09:11 Using the immune system to treat cancer 00:19:03 Microbiome research for oncology 00:23:46 Journey from first study 00:27:30 Stimulating immune system with FMT 00:39:09 Chemotherapy, pancreatic cancer and the microbiome 00:48:29 Novel cell therapy and chemotherapy 00:49:02 Future of immunotherapy 00:52:32 Immune therapy response in cancer treatment 00:55:41 Antibiotics and cancer treatment

The following is a conversation with Sonny Drinkwater, an entrepreneur and co-founder of WellEasy, which is a membership-based online platform that aims to make healthy living accessible and affordable for everybody. Sonny and the team at WellEasy have been on a mission over the last couple of years, organically growing their business from the ground up. Starting in a garage to being an online platform that now has over 10, 000 members. They've also started to manufacture and sell some of their own products. Sonny explained the journey throughout our conversation today, all the various ups and downs associated with building a business, and also gave us some real insights into his vision, which is to improve the health of the nation through his business. I loved speaking to Sonny as a mission-led founder. I learned a lot about supermarkets in the UK, the food industry as a whole, and his approach to healthy living as a founder. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:55 Eating real vs processed foods 00:03:16 Starting WellEasy 00:07:49 Poor food choices in the UK 00:09:49 Food product testing 00:12:39 Defining ultra-processed foods 00:15:39 Changing how we look at food 00:17:30 Balancing food, life and relationships 00:21:28 Are some supermarkets better than others? 00:23:37 Managing life as an entrepreneur 00:27:00 Biohacking 00:31:22 Supply chain issues 00:33:15 Eating healthily at work 00:35:10 More about starting WellEasy 00:38:14 WellEasy’s membership scheme 00:44:28 Challenges of eating healthily 00:56:09 “Healthy” snacks for kids 00:59:03 Political involvement in healthy eating 01:01:28 Vision for WellEasy 01:03:09 Prebiotic fibre

In this Biome Bite, Dr James McIlroy chats about the progress of the Inside Matters Podcast. Hey guys, it's James here for another episode of Biome Bites. In these episodes, it's just me and you, the listener. So today we're going to be celebrating the fact that we've achieved some important milestones on the podcast and wanted to give a flavour of what's coming next and what we've learned so far. On the journey through inside matters, so a couple of really key metrics that I'm excited about. One is that we surpassed 10, 000 downloads a couple of weeks ago. We've also dug into the analytics associated with where people are based, where they're tuning in from and general engagement on an episode-to-episode basis. So I thought it'd be quite interesting to share that with the listener base. There are a couple of trends that are quite humbling and get me quite excited and motivated to continue doing what I'm doing here. with the podcast. And we set out with the vision of trying to create the best microbiome content on the planet. As a microbiome and gut health fanatic myself, and as someone who loves long-form podcast content, I spend five, sometimes 10 hours a week plus listening to long-form content. I was frustrated that I couldn't get any gut health microbiome content in that format. After probably around six months of searching and thinking, we decided that we were just going to start one ourselves. And I guess that's the entrepreneur in me. I see an opportunity and if I'm excited about it, just go for it and think glass half full. And if the glass isn't half full, then fill it up and have a kind of impossible, as-nothing type of mindset. And the name Inside Matters came to me early in the morning, one weekend when I was brainstorming with my friend and colleague, Ian Whalley, who helps with all the website and the graphics design. We essentially have been fulfilling the vision since we launched the first podcast episode. And on a month-to-month basis, there's been a steady cadence of increasing engagement. And we're seeing what I think are really quite remarkable metrics for a podcast that's really got quite a niche offering in terms of what we're talking about. Now whilst the microbiome is all-encompassing and there are microbiomes in the soil, there are microbiomes in your ear, there's a microbiome in your nose, there's a microbiome in your gut, there's a microbiome on your desk, and you could go as far as saying the whole world is a microbiome. of sorts. It is still a topic that doesn't get as mainstream attention as something like AI. And our listening is not as easy listening for the most part as some other podcasts that are really popular. Our aim is not to try and capture the attention of as many listeners as possible because if we wanted to do that we would change our content slightly and we would talk about subjects that are really accessible and of interest to the whole population like weight loss and muscle gain and tell stories because stories get a lot of engagement. We want to stay true to our vision at Inside Matters and that is to really create an absolute best-in-class podcast. So for anybody who's interested in microbiome, whether they want to scratch the surface. and get a bit of microbiome gut health 101. Although I want to go super deep and listen to world experts talking to me at the deepest kind of level, there should be content on our podcast platform website and newsletter for you. It takes a lot of time, graft and grind and determination to create something from nothing and consistency is key. So we will continue to record even if life gets really busy and work gets really busy. We do have great guests lined up now for the next three months or so, and we're doing recordings in London. We're doing recordings in San Diego. We're doing some remote recordings as well. And of course, we're doing recordings in our HQ here in Scotland. And we're diversifying a little bit. So we're speaking to...

The following is a conversation with Dr. Petra Louis, Senior Research Fellow at the Rowett Institute for Nutrition and Health at the University of Aberdeen. We entertained various subjects in a fun, but also quite serious manner. We got into some nitty gritty fun topics with regards to diets, supplements, fibre, and all the things that we've talked about before in the podcast, but going into quite some significant detail.

The following is a conversation with Erin Kenney, the CEO of Nutrition Rewired. Erin is a registered dietitian with a Master's in nutritional science. She's done an amazing job in building a business that helps people take control of their lives through modulating their diet, improving their gut health and ultimately looking after the gut microbiome. Today's conversation was far-reaching. We talked about fibre, We talked about gums, we talked about artificial sweeteners, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and supplements. This was pretty much an A to Z of what to do to look after your gut health, what works and what doesn't. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of the listeners and supporters of the podcast for everything you've done to help us build the name, and the brand, and to get the message out there around microbiome being critically important and gut health being important for wider body health. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:19 How Erin became interested in gut health 00:04:32 Biggest impacts on Erin’s health 00:06:09 Stress and gut health 00:09:22 Does caffeine give us energy? 00:14:46 Bone broth instead of coffee 00:16:06 Coffee and our liver 00:16:48 Taking control of gut health 00:18:42 The role of a good breakfast 00:21:55 Lean muscle mass and women 00:23:07 Importance of protein 00:26:32 Role of supplements 00:29:35 Creating an optimal regime 00:32:33 Ketogenic diets 00:38:34 SIBO 00:46:24 Microbiome testing 00:49:00 Vitamin D 00:51:51 Green powder supplements 00:55:19 Heavy metals 01:01:38 Artificial sweeteners 01:05:58 Gum instead of gluten 01:10:18 Palm oil 01:12:20 Nutrition Rewired Full Transcript: [00:00:00] JAMES: The following is a conversation with Erin Kenny, the CEO of Nutrition Rewired. Erin is a registered dietitian with a master's in nutritional science. She's done an amazing job in building a business up that helps people take control of their lives through modulating their diet, improving their gut health and ultimately looking after the gut microbiome. [00:00:24] JAMES: Today's conversation was far reaching. We talked about fiber, We talked about gums, we talked about artificial sweeteners, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, supplements. This was pretty much a A to Z of what to do to look after your gut health, what works and what doesn't. I really appreciated how simply Erin put lots of complicated topics for the listener. [00:00:49] JAMES: She podcast so that might explain why she was such a good guest. This is an amazing episode for anyone who's wanting to enter into this field, but we also digged into some [00:01:00] technical aspects, and I learned a lot over the course of the conversation. This is Inside Matters. My name is Dr. James McIlroy. I hope you enjoy it. [00:01:16] JAMES: So how did you get interested then in gut health? [00:01:19] ERIN: It was a very selfish Journey for me, I, from a very young age, struggled with digestive issues. They had to take me off of being breastfed when I was a baby and got on to formula fed. And, you know, I was struggling with a ton of digestive issues. And basically they just slapped me with a diagnosis of lactose intolerance. [00:01:42] ERIN: And basically what most of my childhood, struggling with horrible pain, horrible bowel movement. I will honestly say that a majority of my childhood was spent in the bathroom because Of how bad things were with my gut and [00:02:00] I really didn't have much help, you know, it was kind of just, you know, let's watch out for dairy and let's watch out for, you know, triggers and things like that, but it was kind of just, you know, take elodium and, and hope for the best. [00:02:13] ERIN: So, fast forward, you know, as I started to get older, I was a full time athlete, I was, you know, in high school, and really wanted to start taking care of myself. I struggled with mental health issues, I lost my father to his battle with mental health struggles, and it started to...

The following is a conversation with Mollie Hughes, a British alpinist, world record holder, company director, and entrepreneur. This podcast will appeal to anybody and everybody. It's very easy to listen to Mollie speak and you can kind of get a sense of what it takes to summit Everest and go to the South Pole. She broke the world record for becoming the youngest woman to climb both sides of Mount Everest and the youngest woman to ski solo to the South Pole. And now she's building an amazing adventure business, going around the world talking about her endeavours, and writing a book. We explore how Mollie developed her mindset both before and during her incredible quests, she explains what it’s like to be caught in an 8-day whiteout on the South Pole and how affirmations helped keep her skis moving. Everyone can get something practical from this conversation, especially when it comes to developing a mindset to enable you to achieve your goals and deal with adversity along the way. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:33 Mollie’s background 00:05:00 Tackling extreme activities 00:08:59 Controlling fear 00:10:46 Deciding to climb Everest 00:11:34 Fitness to climb Everest 00:15:00 Costs to climb Everest 00:17:47 Kit required to climb Everest 00:20:14 Mollie’s first climb of Everest 00:23:29 Everest’s death zone 00:26:22 Hillary’s Step 00:32:51 Communication and food on Everest 00:35:06 Climbing north face of Everest 00:44:59 Human landmarks on Everest 00:52:31 Skiing to the South Pole 00:58:58 Dealing with isolation 01:07:16 Silence of the South Pole 01:09:20 Joining Ocean Vertical