Podcast · Health

The Mind-Gut Conversation Podcast

by Emeran Mayer, MD · English · Health

The Mind-Gut Conversation brings in experts within various fields of health & science to have a discussion with world-renowned gastroenterologist, neuroscientist and bestselling author of The Mind Gut Connection, Emeran Mayer, MD.

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 49 min
Latest: 12 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026 · 57 minNew

What Nutrition Scientists Actually Agree On with Christopher Gardner, PhD | MGC Ep. 127

Nutrition advice seems to change every week, but Dr. Christopher Gardner says the core of what we know has barely moved in fifty years. In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer talks with Gardner, a professor of medicine at Stanford University, about his new book, Food Sense. Gardner has studied nutrition for more than three decades, served on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, and sits on the scientific advisory board of the Culinary Institute of America. He is not selling a product, and he makes the case that there is much more consensus in nutrition than social…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E126 · 19 Sep 2026 · 59 min
Healthspan vs. Lifespan: What It Takes to Stay Healthy Longer with Dr. Jamie Justice | MGC Ep. 126
Over the past century, average lifespan in Western countries has grown by about 30 years. The years we spend in good health have not kept pace. In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Dr. Jamie Justice, Executive Vice President of the Health Domain at the XPRIZE Foundation and Executive Director of XPRIZE Healthspan, a $101 million, seven-year global competition to find therapies that restore muscle, cognitive, and immune function in older adults. They discuss the roughly 12-year gap between lifespan and healthspan, why research in worms, flies, mice, and…
E125 · 1 Sep 2026 · 7 min
What Is The Mayer Model? with Emeran Mayer, MD | MGC Ep. 125
After 45 years of research on how the brain and the gut communicate, the question Dr. Emeran Mayer hears most often is not about mechanisms or studies. It is much simpler than that. People tell him they understand the science, they just do not know how to live it. In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer introduces The Mayer Model, the book he has been working toward for his entire career. He explains why his earlier books, The Mind-Gut Connection and The Gut-Immune Connection, focused on explaining the biology, and why this one is built to close the gap between the evidence…
E124 · 18 Aug 2026 · 13 min
Why Are We Living Longer But Not Healthier? with Emeran Mayer, MD | MGC Ep. 124
Modern medicine has never been better at keeping people alive. So why are we spending more of our lives unwell? In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer examines a new analysis from the Global Burden of Disease project, published in Lancet Public Health, comparing how long people live with how many of those years are lived in good health across 204 countries and territories. The difference between those two numbers is called the morbidity gap. In 1990 the average person could expect to spend 8.8 years of life in poor health. By 2023 that had risen to 10.7 years, and the…
S1 · E123 · 4 Aug 2026 · 56 min
Psychedelics for IBS: Inside the First Clinical Trial with Erin Mauney, MD
For most of the last forty years, irritable bowel syndrome was treated as a problem of the gut alone. The idea that the brain plays a central role took decades to gain acceptance, and it remains contested today. In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Dr. Erin Mauney, a pediatric gastroenterologist and researcher at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital, who has completed one of the first clinical trials of psilocybin-assisted therapy for patients with treatment-resistant IBS. They discuss why a compound acting primarily on the brain might change how the gut…
E122 · 23 Jul 2026 · 57 min
Does Your Daily Probiotic Actually Work, or Is It Just Hype? with Kiran Krishnan, PhD | MGC Ep. 122
Millions of people take a daily probiotic without ever asking a basic question: does any of it survive long enough to do anything? In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Kiran Krishnan, a research microbiologist and Chief Scientific Officer at Microbiome Labs who has spent his career studying the human microbiome and the science behind probiotics. Kiran is best known for popularizing spore-based probiotics and for his work on metabolic endotoxemia, the mechanism behind what many people call leaky gut. The conversation opens with a hard look at what happens to…
9 Jul 2026 · 15 min
What We Get Wrong About Menopause: Hormones & The Gut Microbiome with Emeran Mayer, MD | MGC Ep. 121
Menopause isn't just hot flashes — it's brain fog, bone loss, sleep, mood, and your gut. In this solo episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer unpacks the ~34 symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, the 2002 hormone-therapy scare that still shapes care today, and what current science says about estrogen and HRT. Then he turns to the part almost no one is talking about: the estrobolome — the gut microbes that recycle estrogen as part of the brain-gut microbiome system. It may explain why symptom severity varies so widely between women, and why fiber, phytoestrogens, soy…
E120 · 23 Jun 2026 · 23 min
Is Soil Health the Missing Piece of Human Health? with Sadhguru | MGC Ep. 120
This episode is brought to you by Mayer Nutrition. Use code MINDGUT at checkout to save 10% on your first order of our polyphenol blend, Synaptic Bloom, at https://www.mayernutrition.com. The health of our soil and the health of our gut may be expressions of the same crisis — and healing one may depend on healing the other. In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer continues his conversation with Sadhguru, recorded at the Isha Foundation in Tennessee, turning from consciousness and inner intelligence to the ground beneath us — quite literally. Sadhguru has spent years leading…
E119 · 9 Jun 2026 · 26 min
What Science Gets Wrong About Intelligence with Sadhguru | MGC Ep. 119
Neuroscience is built on an assumption most scientists never examine: that the brain is the seat of consciousness, intelligence, and everything that makes us human. Sadhguru thinks that’s like a child staring at a phone while a sunset unfolds right in front of them. In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Sadhguru — yogi, mystic, and founder of the Isha Foundation — for a conversation recorded at the Isha Foundation’s retreat center in Tennessee. Sadhguru draws a sharp distinction between intellect — the data-gathering, pattern-finding capacity that AI…
E117 · 27 May 2026 · 7 min
What Overwork Actually Does To Your Body with Dr. Emeran Mayer | MGC Ep. 118
Most of us know overwork isn't good for us. But the research on just how damaging it can be, and how quietly the damage accumulates, is more sobering than most people realize. In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer reflects on his own experience of sustained overwork throughout his career. We're talking 80-hour weeks, chronic sleep disruption, borderline hypertension, and eventually atrial fibrillation. He also digs into what the science says about why this pattern is so common and so easy to miss. Drawing on findings from the World Health Organization, the Cleveland…
12 May 2026 · 47 min
What if Consciousness Starts in Your Gut, Not Your Brain? with Michael Pollan | MGC Ep. 117
Consciousness is one of science's deepest mysteries — and it may be under threat. In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Michael Pollan, author and one of our most important thinkers on the relationship between humans and the natural world, to discuss consciousness, the subject of Michael's latest book. They explore what consciousness actually is, how it differs from sentience and intelligence, and why the gut operates with remarkable sophistication outside conscious awareness. Michael explains how his lifelong interest in plants, food, and psychedelics…
S1 · E116 · 28 Apr 2026 · 50 min
What 99% of Fiber Supplements Get Wrong with Jens Walter, PhD | MGC Ep. 116
For decades, fiber was shorthand for digestiveregularity. Today, the science tells a more complex and far more interesting story. In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Professor Jens Walter, a leading microbiome scientist at University College Cork in Ireland, to discuss one of nutrition’s most surprising findings: fiber supplements don’t work like whole foods. Prof. Walter’s research reveals a striking paradox. In clinical trials, fiber supplements consistently show minimal or negative results. But when his team studied a non-industrialized diet rich in whole…
E115 · 14 Apr 2026 · 46 min
Joint Health, Mobility, and the Mind-Body Connection with Jeff Bailey | MGC Ep. 115
Joint pain and limited mobility are often treated as inevitable parts of aging — but what if there's a fundamentally different way to think about joint health? In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer sits down with Jeff Bailey, founder of Avita Yoga and author of the bestselling book Mobility for Life , to explore a revolutionary approach to restoring joint health through yoga. Unlike conventional methods that emphasize stretching and flexibility, Jeff's practice focuses on compression, fascial reorganization, and the body's natural capacity for healing. They discuss why…
E114 · 31 Mar 2026 · 9 min
The Truth About Peptides with Dr. Emeran Mayer | MGC Ep. 114
Peptides are everywhere right now — on social media, in wellness clinics, and in the claims of biohackers promising faster healing, sharper thinking, and slower aging. But how much of this is science, and how much is hype? In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer draws on decades of peptide research — including his early work on gut peptides at UCLA — to explore what these molecules actually are, how they work, and why the gap between promising lab results and proven human medicine is so often overlooked. From insulin and GLP-1 to BPC-157 and beyond, Dr. Mayer examines…
S1 · E113 · 17 Mar 2026 · 49 min
How To Actually Feed Your Gut Microbiome with Anu Simh | MGC Ep. 113
Eating for your microbiome doesn't have to be complicated — but it does require rethinking how we approach food, carbohydrates, and flavor. In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Anu Simh, a board-certified functional health coach, microbiome educator, and author of Flourish from Within: New Gut for Lifelong Health. Anu's work bridges the gap between microbiome science and real-world application, offering a framework for eating that supports microbial diversity without rigid meal plans or overwhelming recipes. They explore why diversity matters more than any…
5 Mar 2026 · 43 min
The Truth About Fiber And Your Gut Health with Matt Amicucci, PhD | MGC Ep. 112
Fiber has been talked about for decades — but emerging research suggests most of us still don't understand what it actually does, how much we need, or why the modern diet has left us so dramatically short of it. In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Dr. Matt Amicucci, food scientist and co-founder of OneBio, to discuss the cutting-edge science of dietary fiber and its far-reaching role in gut health, metabolism, and disease prevention. Dr. Amicucci explains how different fiber structures interact with specific microbial communities in the gut to produce…
S1 · E111 · 17 Feb 2026 · 38 min
Chronic Pain, Brain Health, and the Power of Self Help with Jared Katz | MGC Ep. 111
Chronic pain is often treated as a problem to suppress with medication or surgery, but what if it’s actually a signal from a complex system that needs to be addressed holistically? In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Jared E. Katz, author of Retrain the Brain: Self-Help for Traumatic Brain Injury and creator of the pain management app Painless . Jared’s story begins more than twenty years ago, when a traumatic brain injury left him with cognitive impairment and two rare, painful conditions: Chiari malformation and syringomyelia. Rather than accepting a life…
S1 · E110 · 3 Feb 2026 · 43 min
How The Gut Microbiome Influences Estrogen After Menopause with David Meriwether, PhD | MGC Ep. 110
Menopause is often described as a simple decline in estrogen production, but emerging microbiome research suggests the story is far more complex. In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Mayer is joined by Dr. David Meriwether, a scientist at UCLA’s Goodman Luskin Microbiome Center, to discuss the estrobolome — a specialized group of gut microbes that recycle and reactivate estrogen after it has been excreted by the body. They explore how gut microbes may contribute to circulating estrogen levels even after menopause, why menopausal symptoms vary so widely among women, and how…
S1 · E109 · 21 Jan 2026 · 50 min
What a 34,000-Person Study Reveals About a "Healthy" Gut with Tim Spector, MD | MGC Ep. 109
In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Tim Spector, MD, to discuss the implications of a landmark gut microbiome study involving more than 34,000 participants — one of the largest and most comprehensive efforts to date to understand what a “healthy” gut microbiome actually looks like. Drawing from the study’s novel design and findings, they explore why defining gut health is far more complex than identifying a short list of “good” or “bad” microbes. The conversation unpacks what large-scale microbiome data can, and cannot tell us about health, disease…
S1 · E108 · 7 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Why Modern Life is Keeping Our Immune System Switched On with Will Bulsiewicz, MD | MGC Ep. 108
In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Will Bulsiewicz, board-certified gastroenterologist, New York Times bestselling author, and one of today’s leading voices in microbiome science. Drawing from his newest book, Plant-Powered Plus, Dr. Bulsiewicz explores why chronic, low-grade immune activation has become so widespread—and how modern lifestyles are keeping our immune system permanently switched on. Together, they examine the deep connections between diet, the microbiome, the immune system, and inflammation, unpacking how evolutionary mismatches,…
S1 · E107 · 23 Dec 2025 · 47 min
What Modern Medicine Gets Wrong About Gut Health with Lauren DeDecker, MD | MGC Ep. 107
In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Dr. Lauren DeDecker, a board-certified internal medicine physician with training in nutrition and integrative medicine, to explain how gut health is approached in real-world primary care. They discuss why fiber and plant diversity remain foundational for digestive and metabolic health, how microbiome research reshaped modern medicine, and why popular diet trends often miss the bigger picture. The conversation also covers SIBO, common gut-related diagnoses, and how GLP-1 medications are changing what we understand…
S1 · E106 · 10 Dec 2025 · 58 min
A Life Fueled by Passion: Cooking, Culture, and Longevity with Wolfgang Puck | MGC Ep. 106
In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Wolfgang Puck, one of the most iconic chefs of our time, for an intimate conversation about the life experiences, creative influences, and personal philosophy that shaped his extraordinary career. Puck reflects on his difficult childhood in Austria and how the kitchen became both refuge and calling. He shares the pivotal moments — working under a visionary French chef, discovering the power of simple dishes made from exceptional ingredients, and redefining California cuisine — that built the foundation of his…
E105 · 25 Nov 2025 · 52 min
The Truth About Low FODMAP, SIBO, Gluten & Bloating with Kate Scarlata, RDN | MGC Ep. 105
In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Kate Scarlata, RDN, an internationally recognized dietitian, bestselling author, and leading authority on dietary therapies for IBS and chronic digestive disorders. Drawing from her personal medical journey and decades of clinical experience, Kate offers a deeply insightful and refreshingly nuanced look at some of the most debated topics in gut health today. Together, they explore the real therapeutic value of the Low FODMAP diet, who it helps, who it doesn’t, and why its success hinges on personalization rather…
E104 · 28 Oct 2025 · 49 min
Career Shifts, Authenticity, and Intentional Living with Taylor Bell | MGC Ep. 104
Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Taylor Bell, an Ivy League–educated former management consultant turned full-time YouTuber, for a candid conversation on authenticity, ambition, and the health consequences of living out of alignment with your true values. Through her story of leaving a high-pressure corporate career to pursue creative entrepreneurship, Taylor shares what it means to redefine success, listen to your inner voice, and create a life rooted in purpose and well-being. Together, they explore the psychological effects of cognitive dissonance, how chronic stress shows up in the body,…
E103 · 13 Oct 2025 · 45 min
Building Mental Fitness & Healing The Modern Brain with Drew Ramsey, MD | MGC Ep. 103
Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Dr. Drew Ramsey, psychiatrist, author, and pioneer in nutritional psychiatry, for a thought-provoking conversation on how we can proactively strengthen and protect our mental health. Drawing from his new book, Healing the Modern Brain: Nine Tenets to Build Mental Fitness and Revitalize Your Mind, Dr. Ramsey explains what it means to develop “mental fitness” and why small, intentional habits around food, sleep, movement, purpose, and connection can transform how we feel and function in the modern world. Together, they explore the roots of today’s mental health…
S1 · E102 · 30 Sep 2025 · 58 min
Healing Trauma and Unlocking Human Potential with Peter Crone | MGC Ep. 102
Dr. Emeran Mayer welcomes Peter Crone, widely known as The Mind Architect, for a profound conversation on healing trauma, dissolving limiting subconscious beliefs, and unlocking human potential. Peter shares how early life experiences shape the subconscious mind, often creating patterns of fear, anxiety, and self-judgment that hold us back. He explains how shifting awareness and reframing our narratives can open the door to greater freedom, love, and authentic living. Their dialogue bridges Eastern philosophy with modern psychology, offering practical steps to move beyond suffering into…
E101 · 16 Sep 2025 · 50 min
Menopause, Hormones, and Women’s Health with Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz | MGC Ep. 101
Dr. Emeran Mayer welcomes Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, physician, author, and women’s health advocate, for an in-depth discussion on menopause, hormone therapy, and the integration of holistic practices into modern medicine. Dr. Gilberg shares her path into women’s health, including the creation of the Menopause Bootcamp to address the lack of education and awareness around menopause. She explains why estrogen plays a vital role in women’s health beyond reproduction and how the Women’s Health Initiative reshaped, and sometimes restricted, perceptions of hormone therapy. The conversation also…
E100 · 1 Sep 2025 · 1 hr
How Food Influences Our Mood and Mental Health with Felice Jacka, OAM | MGC Ep. 100
Dr. Emeran Mayer welcomes Professor Felice Jacka, founder of the Food & Mood Centre and a global leader in nutritional psychiatry, for an in-depth discussion on how diet influences mental health and brain function. Felice shares the groundbreaking research that launched an entire field, from the first studies linking diet quality to depression, to clinical trials demonstrating how dietary changes can improve major depressive disorder. She also takes us beyond the plate, showing how agriculture, soil health, and food systems play a critical role in shaping both human and planetary health.…
S1 · E99 · 19 Aug 2025 · 53 min
The Mitochondrial Key to Longevity, Stress, & Holistic Health with Martin Picard, PhD | MGC Ep. 99
Dr. Emeran Mayer welcomes Martin Picard, PhD, mitochondrial biologist and systems thinker, for a fascinating conversation on the hidden role of mitochondria in health, stress, and consciousness. Martin explains how mitochondria, far beyond being simple “powerhouses of the cell”, are dynamic regulators of energy, emotion, and resilience. He explores their symbiotic relationship with the gut microbiome and how this ancient partnership influences inflammation, mental health, and overall well-being. You’ll also hear about Martin’s concept of “intrinsic health,” a field-like state that integrates…
S1 · E98 · 2 Aug 2025 · 35 min
The Secrets Behind the World's Longest Living People with Dan Buettner | MGC Ep. 98
Dr. Emeran Mayer welcomes Dan Buettner, National Geographic explorer, Emmy award-winning filmmaker, and founder of the Blue Zones, for an illuminating conversation on the secrets of longevity. Dan explains why people in Blue Zone communities, like Ikaria, Greece, and Nicoya, Costa Rica, live significantly longer, healthier lives, and why it has little to do with genetics. Instead, he shares how their environments naturally support better choices: more movement, plant-based eating, strong social ties, and a deep sense of purpose. You’ll also hear about the proven success of Blue Zone…

About The Mind-Gut Conversation Podcast

The Mind-Gut Conversation Podcast is a English health podcast from Emeran Mayer, MD. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Emeran Mayer, MD
Language: English
Category: Health
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 49 min
Latest episode: 12 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1553856673
Rights: Emeran Mayer, MD

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