
The Gutbliss Podcast
If you’re on a quest for stool Nirvana and more interested in microbes than medication – you’ve come to the right place! Join gastroenterologist and author Dr Robynne Chutkan for a fascinating road trip down your digestive super highway. From groundbreaking microbiome research, to how to deal with common GI problems like heartburn and constipation, to the latest on emerging conditions like SIBO and leaky gut – the Gutbliss podcast is your source for all things gut related. https://gutbliss.com/
Latest episodes

Mar 6, 2025 • 24min
10 Questions to Ask Before Taking an Antibiotic
A one-week course of antibiotics can remove up to 1/3 of your gut bacteria - and that damage can’t be undone by just taking a probiotic, so you need to be absolutely certain that you really need that antibiotic. In today’s episode, I’m going to share 10 critical questions to ask your health care provider if you’ve been prescribed an antibiotic that can help you limit the damage to your gut microbiome.We'd love to hear from you - send us a text!Thank you for being a part of our community! For the latest in digestive wellness go to https://gutbliss.com and follow us on https://www.instagram.com/gutbliss/ for more gut health info. Dr. Robynne Chutkan

Feb 27, 2025 • 26min
GLP-1 Drugs: Making an Informed Decision
On today's show, we're going to dive into the topic of GLP-1 agonists, a class of medications that stimulates your pancreas to produce more insulin, slows down digestion, and promotes feelings of fullness. The benefits are that it can help lower your blood sugar level, it can lead to weight loss, and it may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes. But judicious use is essential because these drugs have serious GI side effects and an increased risk of cancer, so it's important to make sure that your decision to take them is well-informed and that you're making it with eyes wide open. We'd love to hear from you - send us a text!Thank you for being a part of our community! For the latest in digestive wellness go to https://gutbliss.com and follow us on https://www.instagram.com/gutbliss/ for more gut health info. Dr. Robynne Chutkan

Feb 20, 2025 • 19min
Reflux: Top 3 Causes - And How to Get Rid of Them Naturally
More than 60 million Americans experience heartburn on a regular basis, but the recommended treatment does nothing to address the root cause - and totally messes up your digestion. The most important thing that I want you to know is that acid reflux has absolutely nothing to do with overproduction of acid. These symptoms are caused by inappropriate opening of the lower esophageal sphincter, and on today's show, I'm going to tell you about the three most common factors that cause that lower esophageal sphincter to open, and how to treat them without blocking stomach acid. We'd love to hear from you - send us a text!Thank you for being a part of our community! For the latest in digestive wellness go to https://gutbliss.com and follow us on https://www.instagram.com/gutbliss/ for more gut health info. Dr. Robynne Chutkan

Feb 13, 2025 • 23min
Stress: In Your Mind and In Your Gut
Feelings of stress and anxiety aren't just in your head; they're also in your body, especially in your GI tract, and they can cause or worsen almost every digestive condition. Like many people, you may have a lot of stress in your life, and you may also have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, but could stress actually be causing or contributing to your irritable bowel syndrome? The answer is yes! In this episode, I'm going to give you some simple but effective tools for how to quiet your mind - and your GI symptoms.We'd love to hear from you - send us a text!Thank you for being a part of our community! For the latest in digestive wellness go to https://gutbliss.com and follow us on https://www.instagram.com/gutbliss/ for more gut health info. Dr. Robynne Chutkan

Feb 6, 2025 • 19min
Stool Nirvana: The 5 Essential Factors
I'm going to tell you about the specific things you should be paying attention to when you assess your bowel movements so you can understand what your stool is trying to tell you. Your GI tract communicates with you by giving you feedback through your stool. This is important information that can improve your health. It might even save your life. Your bowel movements can tip you off to the early signs of colon cancer, liver disease, infection. They can tell you whether you’re dehydrated, have a parasite, or problems with your pancreas. Not getting enough greens? Eating too much meat? Thyroid out of whack? Your stool gives you crucial information to help you make those important changes that can make you look, and feel, and function better. How can you figure out what your stool is telling you, and how do you know when you’ve achieved stool nirvana? The five essential factors that you should be assessing.We'd love to hear from you - send us a text!Thank you for being a part of our community! For the latest in digestive wellness go to https://gutbliss.com and follow us on https://www.instagram.com/gutbliss/ for more gut health info. Dr. Robynne Chutkan

Jan 30, 2025 • 29min
Turn Around & Take a Look: Why You Need to Examine Your Bowel Movements
On today's show, why you need to turn around and take a look. And yes, I'm talking about when you are sitting on the toilet and you have finished doing your business, why you absolutely must turn around and take a look at what has come out. Your stool is valuable feedback that your body is giving you, and if you are not looking at it and analyzing it and evaluating it, you are missing out on really important stuff.We'd love to hear from you - send us a text!Thank you for being a part of our community! For the latest in digestive wellness go to https://gutbliss.com and follow us on https://www.instagram.com/gutbliss/ for more gut health info. Dr. Robynne Chutkan

Jan 23, 2025 • 20min
American Gut Project: Why 30 Is the Number You Need to Know
The largest study ever done on the human microbiome was published in 2018 by the American Gut Project. The goal of the study was to better understand the composition and function of the human microbiome, and the impact of diet, lifestyle and disease. The results provide an important roadmap for what to do to cultivate a healthy microbiome.We'd love to hear from you - send us a text!Thank you for being a part of our community! For the latest in digestive wellness go to https://gutbliss.com and follow us on https://www.instagram.com/gutbliss/ for more gut health info. Dr. Robynne Chutkan

Jan 9, 2025 • 17min
Pain in the Butt: What to Do About hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are benign conditions but they’re still super bothersome – and they can almost always be improved or healed completely, so there's no need to just resign yourself to having a pain in the butt. In this episode learn all about what causes hemorrhoids - plus treatment options for acute and chronic symptoms.We'd love to hear from you - send us a text!Thank you for being a part of our community! For the latest in digestive wellness go to https://gutbliss.com and follow us on https://www.instagram.com/gutbliss/ for more gut health info. Dr. Robynne Chutkan

Dec 26, 2024 • 10min
Simple But Not Easy - 2024 Gut Health Wrap Up
On today’s show, the last episode of the year, I want to say a huge thank you for listening and supporting the podcast. My message for this 2024 wrap up is a reminder that better gut health is simple, but not always easy. Focus on the small consistent changes that will make a big difference in the long run, and be kind to yourself on the journey. We'd love to hear from you - send us a text!Thank you for being a part of our community! For the latest in digestive wellness go to https://gutbliss.com and follow us on https://www.instagram.com/gutbliss/ for more gut health info. Dr. Robynne Chutkan

Dec 19, 2024 • 21min
Getting Regular: In the Gym & the Bathroom!
On today's show, we are talking regularity, how consistent habits and training pay off in the gym - and the bathroom! I'll explain what you need to do the day before to make sure that morning poo arrives on time and your day gets off to a smooth start. Hint: hydrate, eat lots of fiber, and shut it down early if you want to experience stool (and gym) nirvana the next day.We'd love to hear from you - send us a text!Thank you for being a part of our community! For the latest in digestive wellness go to https://gutbliss.com and follow us on https://www.instagram.com/gutbliss/ for more gut health info. Dr. Robynne Chutkan