EFR 919: The Gut–Brain–Immune Connection: The New Science of Inflammation and Why You Can’t Heal the Gut Without Healing the Mind with Will Bulsiewicz
Ever Forward Radio with Chase Chewning
Release Date: 01/12/2026
Ever Forward Radio with Chase Chewning
This episode is brought to you by Audible, and In this deeply philosophical conversation, James Beshara explores the timeless question of who we really are beneath our roles, labels, and ambitions, drawing from Vedanta, psychology, and modern life. Through powerful metaphors like the allegory of the cave and the hero’s journey, James challenges the idea that we’re defined by our careers, identities, or need to belong—arguing instead that most people are “living in shadows,” mistaking societal conditioning for truth. The discussion reveals how our fear of rejection keeps us from...
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This episode is brought to you by , and Breakups don’t just hurt emotionally—they rewire your brain. Cole Zesiger is here to unpack the science of heartbreak, why it can feel like addiction, and what actually helps you move forward. He dives into the truth about no-contact, attachment styles, and why many people stay stuck chasing closure or clinging to the idea of “the one.” Cole also shares practical strategies to rebuild your life after a breakup, explaining how healing comes from creating meaning, regulating your emotions, and building a life that feels better than the one...
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This episode is brought to you by In this episode of Ever Forward Radio, we sit down with wellness experts and holistic nutritionists from Ancient + Brave, Dana James and Madison Miller, to unpack the modern epidemic of “wellness fatigue”—why more information, supplements, and optimization tools aren’t necessarily making us healthier. We dive deep into the hidden role of stress, the nervous system, and gut health, revealing how chronic cortisol, subconscious belief systems, and overcomplicated routines may be sabotaging progress. From practical insights on sleep, nutrition, and...
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This episode is brought to you by , and Today we sit down with neurologist and brain health expert Majid Fotuhi, MD, PhD, author of , to challenge conventional thinking about Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. Dr. Fotuhi explains why Alzheimer’s may not be a single disease but rather the result of multiple processes—including inflammation, poor sleep, metabolic dysfunction, and lifestyle factors—that accumulate over time. The conversation explores the science behind brain shrinkage, the role of sleep in clearing toxins from the brain, why exercise may be one of the most...
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This episode is brought to you by , , and Heart disease is still the number one cause of death worldwide, yet most people misunderstand what actually causes cardiovascular disease. In this episode of Ever Forward Radio, we sit down with interventional cardiologist Dr. Christopher Davis, MD to break down the real drivers of heart disease, the role of cholesterol, and why nitric oxide may be one of the most important molecules for cardiovascular health. This masterclass explores the science behind oxidized LDL, endothelial dysfunction, nitric oxide production, inflammation, and...
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In this episode, we sit down again with veterinary epidemiologist and Fatty15 co-founder Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson to explore the emerging science behind C15:0, an odd-chain saturated fatty acid increasingly recognized as potentially essential for human health. The conversation begins by addressing skepticism and online claims that C15:0 research is a “scam,” before diving into the human and epidemiological evidence showing that higher circulating levels of C15:0 are associated with lower cardiometabolic disease risk. Dr. Venn-Watson explains why not all saturated fats behave the same...
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This episode is brought to you by In this episode, David Watumull breaks down the science behind astaxanthin — a powerful carotenoid antioxidant backed by over 4,000 peer-reviewed papers and 100+ human clinical trials — and explains why it may be one of the most underappreciated longevity compounds available today. The conversation explores how astaxanthin anchors across cellular membranes to protect mitochondria from oxidative stress, reduce chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”), support cardiovascular health by lowering oxidized LDL and CRP, and cross the blood-brain barrier to...
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This episode is brought to you by , , In this conversation, Dr. Tim Spector breaks down why modern life has quietly dismantled our relationship with fermented foods and how that loss may be fueling inflammation, metabolic disease, and poor mental health. Drawing from the landmark Stanford fermented foods study, he explains how just a few daily servings of fermented foods lowered inflammatory markers by 25%, outperforming fiber alone in immune impact. He outlines the hierarchy of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, why ultra-processed foods sabotage gut health, and how eating 30 diverse...
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This episode is brought to you by and What if the smallest molecule in the universe could have the biggest impact on your health? Welcome "Greg the Hydrogen Man" to explore the science, controversy, and real-world application of hydrogen water and molecular hydrogen therapy. This conversation goes beyond hydration — it explores how hydrogen acts as a biological signal, how it interacts with oxygen, and why it may be foundational to cellular health. Whether you’re into biohacking, longevity, performance, or holistic health, this episode will challenge how you think about water and what it...
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This episode is brought to you by , and In this episode of Ever Forward Radio, psychologist and addiction expert Dr. Adi Jaffe reframes addiction, compulsive behavior, and self-sabotage as intelligent coping strategies rather than personal failures. He explains why labeling people as “addicts” creates shame and traps identity, how early childhood and even preverbal experiences shape adult behavior, and why most habits don’t change through awareness alone. Dr. Jaffe introduces his SPARO Behavioral Loop—stimulus, perception, activation, response, outcome—to show how emotions and...
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In this powerful conversation, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, MD joins Ever Forward Radio to explore why true healing goes far beyond food, supplements, and exercise—and into the nervous system, emotional health, and human connection. Drawing from his new book Plant Powered Plus, Will explains how inflammation is driven by an inseparable triad of gut microbiome imbalance, immune dysfunction, and a compromised gut barrier, while also revealing how chronic stress, unresolved trauma, loneliness, and circadian disruption can prevent the body from ever feeling safe enough to heal. This episode clearly explains the gut–brain–immune axis, the role of parasympathetic “safety” states, why PTSD and trauma leave measurable signatures in the gut, and how practices like sunlight exposure, breathwork, meaningful relationships, and spiritual purpose are not “woo”—but biology.
Follow Will @theguthealthmd
Follow Chase @chase_chewning
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00:00 – Introduction: Why You’re Not Healing (It’s Not Just Food)
01:30 – Inflammation, Strength & the Core Thesis of Plant Powered Plus
02:25 – 70% of the Immune System Lives in the Gut
03:40 – The Inflammation Trifecta: Dysbiosis, Gut Barrier & Immunity
05:10 – How Fast the Gut Microbiome and Gut Lining Can Heal
06:00 – 450,000 New Gut Cells Every Second
09:00 – Why the Body Wants to Heal (If We Let It)
10:00 – Morning Sunlight, Circadian Rhythm & Energy
11:30 – Gut Microbes Follow a 24-Hour Schedule
12:45 – Why the Immune System Is Active at Night
14:00 – Serotonin, Melatonin & Gut Repair
16:00 – Cortisol: When Stress Helps vs. Harms
18:30 – The Sympathetic Nervous System & “Berserker Mode
21:45 – How Chronic Stress Damages the Gut Barrier
24:00 – Trauma, PTSD & Inflammatory Disease
26:00 – Why You Can’t Out-Diet Trauma
29:00 – Science, Pattern Recognition & the Mind–Body Connection
32:00 – Parasympathetic Healing: Safety, Rest & Digestion
34:00 – Breathwork, Meditation & Nervous System Regulation
36:00 – Human Connection as Medicine
38:30 – Loneliness, Mortality & Modern Society
43:00 – Why Meaningful Relationships Are Essential for Health
46:00 – Can You Be Healthy Without Deep Connection?
49:00 – Measuring Stress: HRV, Wearables & Inflammation
55:30 – Trauma, PTSD & the Gut Microbiome
58:00 – Healing Trauma and Healing the Gut Together
1:03:30 – Dr. Bulsiewicz’s Personal Healing Story
1:09:30 – Reconciliation, Grief & Spiritual Healing
1:18:00 – Purpose, Faith & the Limits of Science
1:22:00 – Ever Forward
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Episode resources:
- Get 50% off any diagnostic labs with code CHASE at https://www.JoiAndBlokes.com/chase
- Get an additional 15% off the 90-day starter kit of C15:0 essential fatty acids https://www.Fatty15.com/everforward
- Save 15% on organic coffee and lattes with code CHASE at https://www.StrongCoffeeCompany.com
- Watch and subscribe on YouTube
- Get Will's new book, Plant Powered PLUS
- Learn more at TheGutHealthMD.com