The Gastro Girl Podcast

Gastro Girl Inc
  • 4.8 (26)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

If you're one of the millions of people living with a chronic digestive health condition, you're not alone. Whether you're newly diagnosed, in remission, or trying to understand what's happening in your body—and what you can do about it—The Gastro Girl Podcast is here to help. Hosted by Jacqueline Gaulin, longtime patient advocate and founder of Gastro Girl, this podcast goes beyond surface-level conversations to deliver clear, compassionate, evidence-based insights into digestive health. Each episode is designed to help you feel more informed, confident, and empowered in managing your health and navigating conversations with your healthcare team. You'll hear from leading gastroenterologists and healthcare experts, along with patient voices and practical guidance on topics across gastroenterology—from common GI symptoms and chronic conditions to emerging research, treatments, and trusted resources. The tone is engaging, supportive, and nonjudgmental—because digestive health deserves thoughtful, human-centered conversations. Gastro Girl is the official patient education partner of the American College of Gastroenterology, and this podcast reflects that commitment to delivering reliable, actionable information patients can trust. Follow The Gastro Girl Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so new episodes are delivered straight to your phone.

  1. 6d ago

    Living With IBD: What Remission Looks Like

    For many people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), understanding what remission actually means can be confusing. If your symptoms improve, does that mean your IBD is under control? And if you're in remission, is the disease gone for good? In Part 2 of our conversation with IBD expert Dr. Jessica Allegretti, we explore what remission means in IBD and why feeling better is only one part of the picture. We discuss: Clinical remission versus endoscopic remission What mucosal healing means The treat-to-target approach in IBD care Why modern treatment goals focus on long-term disease control How controlling inflammation may help reduce the risk of future complications Understanding both how you feel and what may be happening inside your body can help you have more informed conversations with your healthcare team and take an active role in managing your IBD. Subscribe to Gastro Girl for more expert-led conversations designed to help you navigate digestive health with confidence. This educational initiative is sponsored by Merck.

  2. Aug 25

    What Does Your Immune System Have to Do With IBD?

    Why does the immune system cause inflammation in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis? And what do the gut microbiome, intestinal lining, and genetics have to do with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? In this episode of the Gastro Girl Podcast, host Jacqueline Gaulin talks with gastroenterologist and IBD expert Dr. Colleen Kelly about the important connection between the gut and immune system in IBD. Dr. Kelly explains how Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are immune-mediated diseases, why the immune system becomes involved in intestinal inflammation, and how interactions among the immune system, gut lining, genetics, and the trillions of microorganisms that make up the gut microbiome may contribute to IBD. You'll learn: How the immune system and digestive tract normally work together What happens to the immune response in IBD Why inflammation develops in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis How the intestinal barrier, or gut lining, fits into the picture What scientists understand about the gut microbiome and IBD Why IBD involves much more than digestive symptoms How understanding the biology of IBD can help you have more informed conversations with your healthcare team Whether you've recently been diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, are living with IBD, or are supporting someone who is, this patient-focused conversation provides an accessible foundation for understanding what is happening inside the body and why it matters for managing IBD. This educational initiative is sponsored by Merck.

  3. Aug 11

    Diagnosed With Barrett's Esophagus? Here's What You Need to Know

    A Barrett's esophagus diagnosis can leave you wondering what comes next. Understanding your follow-up care, surveillance plan, and individual risk can help you take a more active role in your health. In this final episode of our 4-part U.S.-focused Barrett's esophagus patient education series, Advanced Practice Provider Tedra Gray shares practical guidance to help patients better understand ongoing care, surveillance, risk management, and how to advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why follow-up care and surveillance are important • Why monitoring Barrett's esophagus matters over time • How shared decision-making can help shape your care plan • How management may differ based on a patient's individual risk • What questions to ask and how to take an active role in your care Whether you've recently been diagnosed or have been living with Barrett's esophagus for years, this episode provides practical next steps and evidence-based information to help you better understand your diagnosis and move forward with confidence. This episode is part of a 4-part patient education series sponsored by Castle Biosciences and produced by Gastro Girl in collaboration with leading U.S. clinicians dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with Barrett's esophagus.

  4. Jul 14

    What Is IBD Really Affecting Inside My Body?

    Many people living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis assume that if symptoms improve, their disease is under control. But with inflammatory bowel disease, inflammation can sometimes continue silently, even when you feel okay. In this episode of Gastro Girl, Jacqueline Gaulin speaks with IBD expert Dr. Jessica Allegretti about what IBD may be affecting inside the body and why symptom relief is not always the same as healing. They discuss the difference between feeling better and achieving remission, why ongoing monitoring matters, how flares can develop, and how proactive care may help protect long-term health. This conversation is designed to help patients better understand what may be happening inside their bodies and feel more informed when talking with their healthcare team. This education initiative is sponsored by Merck.

  5. Jul 1

    Barrett's Esophagus Treatment Options | How to Reduce Esophageal Cancer Risk

    After a Barrett's esophagus diagnosis, many patients ask: What happens next—and do I need treatment? In this episode, foregut surgeon Dr. Caitlin Houghton of Keck Medicine of USC explains how Barrett's esophagus is treated in the United States and how doctors work to reduce the risk of progression to esophageal cancer. In this episode, you'll learn: • How doctors decide when treatment is needed • The role of reflux control, medications, and lifestyle changes • When endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) may be recommended • When surgery may be considered • Why ongoing surveillance is important for long-term care If you or someone you love has Barrett's esophagus, chronic GERD, or long-term acid reflux, this episode provides practical, evidence-based guidance to help you better understand your options. This episode is part of a 4-part patient education series sponsored by Castle Biosciences and produced by Gastro Girl in collaboration with leading U.S. clinicians dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with Barrett's esophagus.

  6. Jun 17

    Colonoscopy Prep Explained: Why Bowel Preparation Matters for Colon Cancer Screening

    Preparing for a colonoscopy may not be anyone's favorite part of colorectal cancer screening, but proper colonoscopy prep is one of the most important factors in detecting precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer early. In this episode, Jacqueline Gaulin sits down with leading gastroenterologist Dr. Fola May to answer common questions about bowel preparation for colonoscopy. Why is colonoscopy prep necessary? What happens if the bowel isn't cleaned properly? Have preparation options improved over the years? And what can patients do to make the process easier? As a co-author of the latest U.S. Multi-Society Task Force recommendations on bowel preparation for colonoscopy, Dr. May explains how colonoscopy prep has evolved to become more effective and patient-friendly. She discusses lower-volume bowel prep options, updated dietary recommendations, and practical strategies to help patients achieve a high-quality prep and avoid repeat procedures. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Why bowel preparation is essential for an effective colonoscopy ✅ How poor prep can impact polyp and cancer detection ✅ Newer low-volume colonoscopy prep options ✅ Updated diet recommendations before a colonoscopy ✅ Tips for improving your colonoscopy prep experience ✅ How proper prep helps improve colorectal cancer screening outcomes Whether you're preparing for your first colonoscopy or looking for the latest guidance on bowel preparation, this episode provides expert insights to help you feel more confident and informed. This episode is brought to you in collaboration with the American College of Gastroenterology Patient Care Committee.

  7. Jun 10

    IBS-C Treatments Not Working? What to Do Next

    If you've tried medications, diet changes, fiber supplements, or other therapies for IBS-C and still aren't feeling better, you're not alone. Many people with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) feel frustrated when symptoms persist despite treatment. But when treatments don't work, it may be time to take a closer look at what's really going on. In this episode of the Gastro Girl Podcast, Jacqueline Gaulin sits down with Dr. William D. Chey, world-renowned gastroenterologist  at the University of Michigan and President of the American College of Gastroenterology, to discuss what patients should do when IBS-C treatments fail. Dr. Chey explains why some patients continue to struggle, what conditions may be overlooked, and how to work with your healthcare provider to develop a more effective plan. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Why IBS-C treatments may not always work as expected ✅ When it's time to rethink your diagnosis ✅ The role of pelvic floor dysfunction and other overlooked conditions ✅ Questions to ask your healthcare provider ✅ How to take the next step toward better symptom control ✅ Why you don't have to settle for ongoing symptoms Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with IBS-C for years, this episode offers practical insights to help you move forward with confidence. Learn more at GastroGirl.com. This episode is sponsored by Ardelyx.

  8. Jun 1

    Blood Test or Colonoscopy? What Patients Need to Know About New Colorectal Cancer Screening Options

    The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently updated its colorectal cancer screening recommendations, adding new stool-based and blood-based screening options. What's changed in the new American Cancer Society screening recommendations • New stool DNA and stool RNA screening tests • The role of blood-based cancer screening tests • Why colonoscopy remains the gold standard • Why a follow-up colonoscopy is still needed after a positive screening test • Screening recommendations for adults ages 45–75 • The rise in colorectal cancer among younger adults and what patients should know The most important takeaway? Colorectal cancer is highly preventable, and the best screening test is the one that gets completed. This episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare provider.

See All (100)

4.8
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

If you're one of the millions of people living with a chronic digestive health condition, you're not alone. Whether you're newly diagnosed, in remission, or trying to understand what's happening in your body—and what you can do about it—The Gastro Girl Podcast is here to help. Hosted by Jacqueline Gaulin, longtime patient advocate and founder of Gastro Girl, this podcast goes beyond surface-level conversations to deliver clear, compassionate, evidence-based insights into digestive health. Each episode is designed to help you feel more informed, confident, and empowered in managing your health and navigating conversations with your healthcare team. You'll hear from leading gastroenterologists and healthcare experts, along with patient voices and practical guidance on topics across gastroenterology—from common GI symptoms and chronic conditions to emerging research, treatments, and trusted resources. The tone is engaging, supportive, and nonjudgmental—because digestive health deserves thoughtful, human-centered conversations. Gastro Girl is the official patient education partner of the American College of Gastroenterology, and this podcast reflects that commitment to delivering reliable, actionable information patients can trust. Follow The Gastro Girl Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so new episodes are delivered straight to your phone.

Information

  • Creator
    Gastro Girl Inc
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © @2022-2024 Gastro Girl, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Gastro Girl Podcast