Can drinking alcohol impact our gut health? It sure can. Since our gut health is so crucial for our overall health, this episode focuses on the connection between alcohol consumption and the microbial component of our gut health, the gut microbiome. In this episode, I spoke with microbiology researcher Andrew Day about how alcohol disrupts the gut microbiome and mycobiome — the fungal community in the gut — causing changes that affect the body and brain.

We explore whether quitting alcohol can heal the gut and the potential of future therapies like probiotics or fecal transplants to aid recovery. Join us to learn about the gut microbiome’s surprising role in addiction and what science is uncovering about this complex relationship. By understanding these connections, we gain insight into the broader impacts of alcohol on health and behavior.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The role of fungi in the microbiome
• Impact of alcohol on the gut microbiome (and mycobiome)
• Recovery and microbiome restoration
• The gut microbiome and addiction
• The gut-brain axis and alcohol consumption
• Potential of microbial therapies for recovery: probiotics, prebiotics, fecal transplants
• At-home microbiology activity: Grow a biofilm

JOYFUL MICROBE SHOW NOTES: https://joyfulmicrobe.com/alcohol-gut-microbiome-andrew-day/

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Gut health has become a major topic in wellness, influencing everything from grocery choices to discussions on social media. Research increasingly shows the gut microbiome’s role in digestion, immunity, and even mood. But with so much information available, it’s hard to separate science from trend. In this episode, I talk with Kristina Campbell, a science writer known for her expertise in the microbiome. As the author of Gut Health for Dummies, Kristina shares practical, research-based insights to help readers understand what gut health really involves — and how to make confident, informed choices.

Topics covered in this episode:

• How Kristina got interested in microbiology and her path to becoming a science writer and gut health ambassador
• What is gut health and how does it relate to the gut microbiome?
• What does the gut microbiome do for us?
• What motivated Kristina to write Gut Health for Dummies
• How lifestyle factors can impact gut health
• How diet impacts gut health
• Overview of “Biotics” - probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics
• A common myth about probiotics
• Why microbes can’t necessarily be labeled strictly as good and bad
• Gut health trends
• How to assess scientific information
• At-home microbiology activity: Kid-Friendly Gut Health Activity: Make Your Own Emulsifier-Free Dressing

JOYFUL MICROBE SHOW NOTES: https://joyfulmicrobe.com/gut-health-kristina-campbell/

AT-HOME MICROBIOLOGY ACTIVITY: https://joyfulmicrobe.com/gut-health-emulsifiers-activity/

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JOYFUL MICROBE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/justineldees/

SUPPORT JOYFUL MICROBE: https://ko-fi.com/joyfulmicrobe/

Have you ever stopped to think about the teeming world hidden beneath your feet? It's not just dirt down there; it's a vibrant ecosystem teeming with microbes!

These unseen organisms play a critical role in our daily lives, impacting everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe. In this episode, we'll delve into the fascinating world of soil microbes and explore how they're revolutionizing agriculture.

As the agricultural sector faces growing challenges from rising input costs, herbicide and pesticide resistance, soil degradation, and climate change, the need for more sustainable and efficient farming methods is critical.

Microbial agricultural biologicals offer an exciting solution. These bio-based products — biofertilizers, biopesticides, and biostimulants — harness the power of microbes to support farming and create a more sustainable future for agriculture.

In this episode, Dr. Barry Goldman, founder and Chief Science Officer of Pluton Biosciences, shares insights into the remarkable potential of these invisible allies in agriculture.

Join us as we discuss how innovative companies like Pluton Biosciences are developing cutting-edge solutions to tackle the challenges faced in modern agriculture.

In this episode, you will learn about…

• Dr. Goldman's journey into microbiology
• The importance of soil microbiology in agriculture
• Agricultural biologicals, including biopesticides, biofertilizers, and biostimulants, and companies developing these products
• Pluton Biosciences and its microbial discovery platform
• Challenges and misconceptions in the use of microbes in agriculture
• At-home microbiology activity: Exploring Photosynthetic Microbes in Our Soil

Get ready to be inspired by the power of microbes and their transformative potential for the future of our food and our planet.

JOYFUL MICROBE SHOW NOTES: https://joyfulmicrobe.com/microbes-in-agriculture-barry-goldman/

AT-HOME MICROBIOLOGY ACTIVITY: https://joyfulmicrobe.com/photosynthetic-microbes-activity/

JOYFUL MICROBE TWITTER: https://twitter.com/joyfulmicrobe/

JOYFUL MICROBE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/justineldees/

SUPPORT JOYFUL MICROBE: https://ko-fi.com/joyfulmicrobe/