Ep 20 Tina Aswani Omprakash from Own Your Crohns, a story of resilience and GRITT
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
Release Date: 05/20/2020
Ep 42: Trauma and the Gut: Rethinking Care in Gastroenterology – Dr Christina Jagielski
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
In this episode, I’m joined by Christina Jagielski, GI health psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Michigan Medicine. Dr Jagielski specialises in the intersection of psychological trauma and gastrointestinal health, using evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, relaxation training, and gut-directed hypnotherapy to support patients with a range of GI conditions. In this episode, we explore trauma-informed care in gastroenterology — including how trauma can shape gut...
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Ep 41: Is gluten the root of all evil ? - Dr Jessica Biesiekierski
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
n this episode, I’m joined by Jessica Biesiekierski, Associate Professor and Head of Human Nutrition at the University of Melbourne, and an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow specialising in diet, gut health, and gut–brain interactions. Jess is internationally recognised for her work on non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), a term she helped define during her PhD at Monash University. Her research has been instrumental in shaping how we understand the complex relationship between gluten, gut symptoms, and the role of other dietary factors. In this episode, we explore what NCGS actually is...
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Ep 40 Prof Ted Kaptchuk on Placebos, IBS and the Therapeutic Encounter
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
In this episode of The Talking Gut Podcast, Dr Jim Kantidakis sits down with Professor Ted J. Kaptchuk, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Professor Kaptchuk is one of the world’s leading researchers in placebo science. His groundbreaking 2010 study, Placebos Without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, demonstrated that patients with IBS improved even when they knowingly took a placebo — challenging long-held assumptions about...
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Ep 39 Prof Jane Andrews on Delivering Value, Empowering Patients & Inspiring Healthier Living
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
In this episode of The Talking Gut Podcast, I’m joined by leading gastroenterologist Professor Jane Andrews, a Clinical Professor with more than 25 years of experience in patient care, research, and health system innovation. From building one of Australia’s largest IBD services to serving as Chair and Medical Director of Crohn’s Colitis Cure, Professor Andrews has played a major role in shaping modern gastroenterology and patient-centred care. Together, we explore how to create real value in healthcare from improving access and coordination through digital tools to designing integrated,...
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EP 38 Prof Nicholas Talley on Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE)
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
In this episode, I’m joined by Distinguished Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley, one of Australia’s most cited medical researchers and a global leader in neurogastroenterology, mucosal immunology, and disorders of gut–brain interaction. Professor Talley shares his expertise on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an emerging immune-mediated condition changing how we understand gut inflammation, diet, and the microbiome.We’ll explore what causes EoE, how it’s diagnosed and treated, and what the latest research reveals about its connection to diet and environmental factors. Whether...
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Recharge, Reset, and Return: Talking Gut 2026!
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
Talking Gut is taking a short break over the holidays! Thank you for an incredible year of learning, curiosity, and gut health insights. We’ll be back in the new year with fresh episodes and standout guests including experts like Prof Nicholas Talley, A/Prof Jessica Biesiekierski, Prof Ted J. Kaptchuk and more. Stay tuned and enjoy the break!
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Ep 37 Allison Bryant on How to Poo Correctly!
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
In this episode, I’m joined by Allison Bryant, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist and expert in bowel mechanics, pelvic floor dysfunction, constipation, and incontinence. Together, we take a surprisingly fascinating deep dive into how to actually poo correctly—because most people are doing it wrong! We explore: What healthy bowel habits really look like (frequency, consistency, effort) Why bowel movements should be painless, quick, and completely strain-free How stool type reveals what’s happening in the gut and pelvic floor The importance of responding to the “call to stool” Early signs...
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Ep 36 Kate Lane on Dietetics and Eating Disorders
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Lane, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician, and specialist in the crossover between nutrition, mental health and gut health. With a background in dietetics, counselling, and the biopsychosocial model of care, Kate brings a compassionate and evidence-based approach to eating disorders and Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction. We’ll explore the role of dietitians in eating disorder treatment, how they work within multidisciplinary teams, and the common misconceptions about recovery and nutrition. Kate shares insights into...
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Ep 35 Dr Stephanie Pirotta on Food & Chronic Pelvic Pain in Females
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Stephanie Pirotta, Accredited Practising Dietitian, adjunct research fellow at Monash University, and founder of Womanly Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr Pirotta’s research and clinical work centre on women’s health, with expertise in PCOS, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. She combines evidence-based nutrition with compassionate care to support women living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, and other hormone-related conditions. We discuss the role of diet and gut health in managing chronic pelvic pain, the links between the microbiome, inflammation, and...
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Ep 34 Dr Alexandra Fuss on Medical Gaslighting and Medical Invalidation
Talking Gut with Dr Jim Kantidakis
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Alexandra Fuss, Ph.D., Director of Behavioral Medicine in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Alexandra previously served as Director of Behavioral Health in Digestive Diseases and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale, and is a National Scientific Advisor for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and Associate Editor of Crohn’s & Colitis 360 Journal. Together, we unpack the topic of medical gaslighting and invalidation in gastrointestinal care, what it is, why...
info_outlineIn todays episode I had the pleasure to talk to Tina Aswani Omprakash from Own your Own Crohns. Tina is someone who was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease 13 years ago and has gone on to become an IBD Blogger and patient advocate. Not only has Tina needed to deal with Crohns disease, but also an additional 22 diagnoses including gastroparesis, post-surgical irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), vestibular migraines, vertigo, inflammatory arthritis and pelvic floor dysfunction . And lets not forget the associated mental health challenges including anxiety, depression and medial PTSD.
I met Tina last year in May at the Digestive Diseases Week meeting in San Dieago and have stayed connected with her via the social media platforms.
Tina has been very open in talking about her past and present challenges in managing her multiple diagnoses in order to help and support others. She has done such an incredible job that in 2019, she won the Healio Disruptive Innovator Award for the Patient Voice category at the American College of Gastroenterology’s conference in San Antonio.
You can reach out and connect with Tina via her blog posts on ownyourcrohns.com or her facebook and twitter pages under the same name.
This is a story of incredible resilience.
I hope you get a lot of value from listening to my conversation with Tina Aswani Omprakash