The Celiac Project Podcast

Mike and Cam are so happy to welcome Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, MD and Randi Wolf, PhD, MPH from the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center, to the podcast. They are currently collaborating on an exciting study, the GLUTECH Trial, which explores how gluten detection technology may improve the treatment of people who are newly diagnosed with celiac disease. In this informative conversation, we also discuss the state of celiac research and the need for more studies dealing in the social and emotional wellness of celiac patients.

Mike and Cam are excited to welcome returning guest, Dr. Marty Linseisen, for our final Celiac Awareness Month podcast of the year. Marty has the unique perspective of being a medical doctor who also happens to have celiac disease. Marty is passionate about helping to raise awareness as well as help people with celiac disease live their best life. He shares some of his top strategies for staying healthy with celiac disease and navigating life on a gluten free diet.

As Celiac Awareness Month continues, Mike and Cam are excited to welcome State Senator, Sally Turner, to the podcast. Senator Turner and her team have constructed Senate Bill 1288 requiring all food handlers in Illinois to complete training on celiac disease and the safe handling of gluten-free foods. We believe that this important bill could be a template for other states to follow. Find out what inspired Senator Turner to author this bill, as she advises the gluten free community on how we can become more active in helping this type of legislation to pass.

With another Celiac Awareness Month upon us, Mike and Cam share their 10th Annual Celiac State of the Union. The guys take the pulse on where the celiac and gluten free community stand in a number of categories including: gluten free products, dining out, cost of gluten free living, celiac education, and much more! 

Mike and Cam sit down with Dr. Ritu Verma, Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Medical Director of University of Chicago's Celiac Disease Center. Dr. Verma helps the guys with some "myth busting" relating to celiac disease and a gluten free diet. They tackle both big and small topics including: Are there actually ways to reduce the chances of offspring developing celiac disease? How careful do kids really need to be while eating gluten free at home and at school? Is wheat starch safe for celiacs? And so much more!

Mike's daughters, Jessica and Melanie, join the guys on today's podcast. They share their recent trip to see the University of Wisconsin at Madison. It was quite an adventure as they started with a tour of Taste Republic facilities and learned some of their secrets to great pasta making. They also had some standout gluten free meals while in town. Most importantly, the University tour was fantastic, complete with a quick primer of the dining halls and some first hand experience seeing what campus life would be like as a student with celiac disease.

The guys delve into some recent articles debating gluten free labeling, and also safe restaurant protocols.  Mike and Cam discuss some of their own recent experiences on this subject and take a deep dive into some of the latest articles and posts. These include the various gluten free certifications to look for on products, as well as their insights about why buying certified gluten free products is almost always the safest choice. 

Cam is just back from hitting the slopes in Utah! His snowboarding adventure had some challenges, as he and his girlfriend were the lone gluten free eaters dealing with a small rental and an even smaller kitchen. Cam shares the tips that kept him safe on his journey, which included more dining out than he expected, but they found a few gems between many great runs down the mountain!

Winter News and Notes heats up this season as Mike and Cam reach into the mailbag to hear what their listeners are sharing. In this episode, a super frustrating tale of getting glutened. On the flip-side, there's nothing more comforting than biting into a delicious burger on a trip to the West Coast, as one listener joyfully points out. Plus, hear about an amazing safe gluten free travel adventure in Japan! Also, Mike and Cam get an inspiring check in with a college student who is making lasting changes to improve campus life for her and her fellow students. 

Mike and Cam are excited to welcome Dr. Jenny Jagers, PhD, to the podcast. Jenny uses her experience as both a medical professional and a celiac patient. Her goal is to make an impact on how we diagnose and recognize celiac disease, with the goal of transitioning the diagnosis stories we hear from "luck" to becoming a routine process. In this dynamic conversation, Jenny shares some amazing tips, ranging from how to talk to your doctor about celiac disease, to the different kinds of bias that a patient can face when trying to get a celiac diagnosis, and much more!  You can find this episode at YouTube.com/@celiacproject

Welcome back for Part 2 of Mike and Cam's epic 10th Birthday bash! We continue this dynamic trip down memory lane with more clips that will blow your mind. On this episode the guys talk about the mind-gut connection, revisit some special moments in gluten free travel and share a truly unique full circle podcast moment thanks to A.I. 

Mike and Cam kick off this very special New Year's show celebrating The Celiac Project Podcast's 10th birthday! We use the occasion to  hit the rewind button, highlighting some of the most definitive moments of the podcast throughout the years. With so many great shows to choose from, we made it a two part celebration! 

Mike and Cam end the year with a special "Holiday Party" podcast! Their year-end bash wouldn't be complete without a signature drink, so they try out the Chi-Claw-Go Handshake, (White Claw Ruby Red Grapefruit mixed with Malort)! Cam talks about his Thanksgiving tailgate at the Packer's game, and the guys share more holiday tips for you. They also share an easy way for friends and family to find out if they might be at risk for celiac disease courtesy of CDF. This jam-packed show wouldn't be complete without a little "Stump Mike and Cam!" Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season and we will see you in 2025 for our special 10 Year Birthday podcast January 8th!!! Time flies when you're having fun!

Returning guest and founder of Baltimore Gluten Free, Andrea Tucker, joins Mike and Cam for a great conversation! In this episode, Andrea shares her recent travel adventure to London, England, and was completely blown away by all of the incredible gluten free offerings! In addition, she talks with the guys about her exciting work helping students with celiac disease or gluten intolerance navigate the transition to college with her Gluten Free College 101 group. Along the way they share some great tips on how to find a school that's going to be a good fit.  If you want to watch this episode go to https://www.youtube.com/@celiacproject

As Thanksgiving and the holidays approach, the guys share some incredible tips from a recent trip of Cam's, to help make your travel plans and visits to family and friends a bit easier during the holidays and beyond. Mike and Cam are also feeling very thankful and share that gratitude with their wonderful listeners and supporters!

It's Fall News and Notes time! Mike and Cam share some listener emails and news that will not disappoint! Big news to share about celiac disease and the doctors doing such great research, finally getting their time in the spotlight. Plus, amazing listener letters including an author who is also getting much deserved attention, a conversation about the different kinds of fiber, and a long-time listener who brings up some important questions about the neurological impact of celiac disease.

It's that ghoulish time of the year, so Mike and Cam share some "tricks" and "treats!" Drink along as the guys try a Pumpkin Cider to get into the "spirit" of the season. Cam found a fall fest that had some fun gluten free offerings. An update on a most tragic story that could have repercussions in how restaurants handle allergy and gluten free diners. Plus, a celiac study that is just a little creepy. Also, tips for finding safe gluten free candy and more!

Mike and Cam know first hand how quickly they can fall into a rut when eating gluten free. The guys share some of their top tips on how to spice things up and hit refresh when the old routines have become a bit stale. Along the way, accidents do happen, and Cam shares a recent experience of a mysterious glutening, and how he was able to fight through it to still have a great time, despite a less than ideal situation.

Mike and Cam welcome Mike's daughter, Jessica, back to the podcast! Jessica is now a junior in High School - how time flies! She shares many updates on her life, including how she handles eating at school, her thoughts on visiting colleges, and some recent health challenges she has had to navigate. We also get to hear briefly from her younger sister, Melanie, as they both share their top gluten free meals from their trip to Ohio. 

Mike recently took his family on a trip through Ohio. On this high energy vacation they encountered intriguing colleges, a long awaited visit to the Rock and Roll at the Hall of Fame, and so many memorable gluten free dining treats! While it was only about a four day trip, Mike and his family made it though Oxford, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo and more! Journey with us, and hear about some of the best places to visit and eat when you plan your own adventure through Ohio!

Mike and Cam welcome Danielle Altonaga to the podcast. Danielle lives in Canada and shares her story of resilience after years of unexplained and complicated symptoms and medical issues. Danielle also has a unique perspective on living gluten free, as she had already been following the strict observance of living Kosher. You will be so inspired by Danielle as she has re-framed her struggles before and after getting diagnosed with celiac disease, living with an attitude of gratitude! You can also watch this month's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WTQeqS7E6qY

It's time for Summer News and Notes! Mike and Cam share some incredible listener letters including a long time listener who is faced with confusion over pre-packaged meals that may or may not contain gluten. We also go behind the scenes, sharing the latest court documents on one of Mary Vargas's most compelling and gut wrenching cases that is still in litigation, and much more!

Summer travel is in full swing so Mike and Cam share a couple of exciting recent trips! While Cam ventures back to Sin City, Las Vegas and is mostly on a good roll, he shares a cautionary moment where things go a little off the rails. Mike's latest adventure with his family takes him to Milwaukee for Lakefront Brewery's incredible Maifest celebration. It's a gluten free fest unlike anything Mike has ever attended and you won't believe the culinary highlights he experiences!

Mike and Cam are excited to welcome fashion designer, Richa Ranawat, all the way from India. Richa shares her incredible story of immense suffering all while desperate to find answers before finally being diagnosed with celiac disease. Along the way, she was diagnosed with other auto-immune conditions and allergies. After seeing 35 doctors and struggling with a myriad of symptoms, she finally started to get answers. Richa takes us on her journey of trauma, self discovery, and an unwavering resilience as she fights for her safety at every turn. We are so excited to share this incredible episode, and you can also watch it (along with captions) on YouTube!  https://youtu.be/cW13RNdoS8s 

Mike and Cam both embarked on recent trips to Michigan at the same time, and they both share some interesting gluten free dining experiences. Cam finds confusion with some store bought cheese with a troubling label. Meanwhile Mike brings the family to visit a couple of college campuses, and is blown away by the gluten free and allergen free offerings at one of the schools. Grab some gluten free snacks and road trip along with the guys!

Our 400th episode was loaded with so many surprises and fantastic information, that we kept the celiac awareness party going into June! This week, we throw the curtain back for Episode 401, where Mike and Cam have their pressing questions answered by Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl and Dr. Alessio Fasano! Plus, GI psychologist, Dr. Elyse Bedell, also shares great information on dealing with the psychological and social effects of celiac, and some tips to help you navigate emotions when times get tough.

We did it! Show 400! We decided to make it a special Celiac Awareness Party and we have incredible surprise guests checking in! So many guests that 400 is the first of a 2 part show. Mike and Cam also reminisce and have a toast with a twist on an old favorite. Don't miss this special show!  

Mike and Cam are so excited to welcome Doctor Alessio Fasano to the podcast. Dr. Fasano has a lot of optimism about the future of celiac treatment and diagnosis. In this special Celiac Awareness Month episode, Dr. Fasano shares his reflections from the past 10 years on celiac disease, and sheds light on what types of treatments to manage the disease will be realistic in the near future. Plus he shares his knowledge about how personalized medicine is the best way to treat celiac patients more effectively and with better results. You can watch this incredible episode on YouTube!  https://youtu.be/EH2QhdGX6RQ Go to YouTube.com/@celiacproject and subscribe to our brand new YouTube Channel!

Mike and Cam are kicking off another Celiac Awareness Month with their 9th Annual Celiac State of the Union show. This year they examine a number of areas that they feel are most important to the celiac and gluten free community. They also look at how society has changed since the beginning of the podcast in 2016 to the present, based on their own expectations of where they thought it would be nearly a decade later. 

Mike and Cam welcome Gluten Free Beer Brian to the show. Brian is an expert at gluten free brewing and beermaking, and the guys sample some of Brian's homemade brews as he gives them an introductory primer, sharing some helpful tips along the way. Pull up a barstool and find out what it takes to brew a top tier gluten free beer! The guys also preview their spectacular Celiac Awareness Month line up that will include 3 very special shows--including episode 400!!!

It's time for Spring News and Notes! In this lively episode, Mike and Cam share some entertaining letters. A listener who had a similar hospital experience as Mike, news about a blood pressure medication that causes celiac-type symptoms, and some clarity about "In and Out Burger" gluten free offerings. Plus, they have a comical debate over a curious way to label donuts--are they gluten-less or do they just have less gluten? You be the judge!

Mike and Cam welcome back attorney Mary Vargas, for part 2 of their compelling, and at times very personal conversation. In this episode, Mary shares her struggles helping her newly diagnosed son navigate college with celiac disease, which Mary has dealt with, ironically, in her own litigation of a case against a university. Along the way they share important tips for what many parents of young adults heading off to college know to be a daunting process. They wrap up by talking a little bit about other institutions that can be challenging for those with celiac including hospital stays, nursing homes, and long term care facilities. 

Returning guest and Disability Rights Lawyer, Mary Vargas, joins us for an eye opening conversation, so much so that it's a 2 part episode! In this week's show, Mary shares updates on some landmark cases including JD vs. Colonial Williamsburg, and the ripple effects of the case. We also revisit an ongoing case involving a man with celiac disease who was not given safe food in jail. In part 2, we dive into navigating some of the issues that can arrive in college, a topic that Mary has faced personally with her own son. 

Mike and Cam are excited to welcome back Vanessa Weisbrod to the podcast. Vanessa discusses her new position at the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF), where she is the Chief Education and Community Engagement Officer.  Vanessa has hit the ground running and shares many of the exciting plans, programs and initiatives that she is working on at CDF. Included in the topics covered are Vanessa's vision for the future of celiac thought leaders, her work with Celiac Cruise, tackling food insecurity on a larger scale, and some of the hurdles that we face trying to change and reform gluten free labeling for food and drugs.

Cam is on the move again and his first trip in 2024 is snowboarding in Colorado! He decided to head back there after ending the year on a bit of a sour note. But on this trip he got back on his feet and, as usual, finds some gems to eat and drink and also shares some travel tips to stay safe and cut costs while shredding on the slopes!

Mike's daughters, Melanie(11) and Jessica(15) return to share updates! Jessica has lived with celiac disease since she was 3 years old, and Melanie learned from a very young age how to help advocate for her and her dad.  More recently, Melanie has been learning to navigate life with a dairy intolerance. Having to deal with social situations like turning down food at parties, has given her a deeper understanding of how Jessica, her dad, and many others live every day.

Mike and Cam kick off 2024 with an old favorite - Stump Mike and Cam! In this episode, the guys test their knowledge on various celiac and gluten free topics. Test your knowledge and play along with them. Will Mike and Cam come out winners or will they be stumped!

As 2023 draws to a close, Mike and Cam explore some of the reasons they believe that 2024 could be the best year yet for the celiac and gluten free community. From positive recent changes they have observed, to better supports and understanding of living a safe gluten free life, Mike and Cam are excited to see our community thrive as we move into 2024. We toast to a fabulous New Year ahead!

Mike and Cam welcome Clinical Psychologist, Monique Germone, PhD to the podcast. Monique is a Pediatric Psychologist at the Colorado Center for Celiac Disease, Digestive Health Institute at Children's Hospital Colorado and an Associate Professor at University of Colorado School of Medicine. Monique discusses some of the unique psychological and emotional challenges facing kids and families with celiac disease and gluten issues. They also talk about how the holidays can add extra stress around food and social gatherings plus some strategies to make sure the holidays are joyful for everyone.

As the end of the year draws near, Mike and Cam reflect on their biggest takeaways from 2023 from a celiac and gluten free perspective. They come away with a wide range of observations, some that affected them very personally, and others that they see as larger issues that impact all of us. 

Mike and Cam are excited to welcome Jax, Jon, and Leslie Bari to the podcast. Jax is an impressive young celiac advocate who has been featured on "ABC World News Tonight with David Muir," and met with President Biden! Jax and his parents are on a mission to advocate for change, and Jax authored a citizen's petition in his efforts to require the labeling of GLUTEN as a major food allergen, making all gluten containing grains labeled in the future. You will be so inspired by the work that Jax, Jon, and Leslie have done to create positive change moving forward!

The guys wrap up Part 2 of Fall News and Notes with a fun story about a podcast fan and his near meet-up with Mike in Madison. They share their thoughts about a NY Times article about the rise of students who need gluten free and allergen free foods in college. Also, a new listener who is still coming to terms with her daughter's celiac diagnosis.

Mike and Cam dig into their mailbag for part 1 of Fall News and Notes! First they share the story of a special birthday at sea on the Celiac Cruise, then a troubling tale of a father who still can't process the seriousness of his daughter's celiac disease, taunting her with gluten. We also talk about Italy's amazing plan to test all kids for celiac and Type 1 diabetes between the ages of 0-17 years old, and much more!

Mike and Cam welcome back special guest Maureen Basye, founder of Celiac Cruise, to the show! The Celiac Cruise has had an epic year of global travel with their expanded sailing opportunities. Maureen doesn't stop there! Her deeply rooted passionate vision and mission to bring gluten free families safe travel and social experiences abroad, while simultaneously giving back to the community through her fundraising efforts, is the driving force in how she views success. We learn the exciting destinations that Celiac Cruise has in store in 2024 and beyond! Hop aboard...a great adventure awaits!

Are there really people with celiac disease who are "more sensitive" than others? Mike shares his latest family get-together and how even after 14 years of being diagnosed with celiac disease, making a documentary, having a podcast and otherwise shouting from the rooftops, this condition can still be confusing--even for folks who think they understand the disease. Mike and Cam also talk about the level of awareness of Crohn's and Colitis as they relate to celiac disease, and why we celebrate Celiac Awareness Day, which was just last Wednesday.  

It's been an eventful summer for Cam! In an exciting turn of events, he has recently discovered a new doctor who is helping him finally get to the bottom of some of his ongoing health issues. In addition to this, he just headed back to school after a long hiatus. Mike helps him unpack some of his takeaways from the latest exciting chapter of his life. On the subject of "back to school" they also share some distinctions between 504 plans, IEP's, and college accommodations. 

  Mike and Cam welcome Teona Khaindrava, founder and owner of Senza Gluten in New York City. Senza Gluten is truly one of the top gluten free restaurants in the world. Teona shares her passion for making sure that everyone who visits Senza Gluten has a memorable experience whether they need to eat gluten free or not. She also shares how the community has lifted her up during challenging times and what drives her to make sure that her customers at Senza Gluten eat the most delicious and safe gluten free Italian food possible!

Mike and Cam welcome Rep. Dean Phillips, member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota's 3rd DIstrict. Rep. Phillips introduced the Allergen Disclosure In Non-Food Articles (ADINA) Act into congress, named after a young girl by the same name who had a health scare at camp. If this bill becomes law, medications must adhere to the same labeling laws as food and beverages. Rep. Phillps shares how he learned about Adina's story, some of the challenges to getting this type of legislation passed, and his hopes that the president will soon be signing this bill into law. 

In Summer News and Notes Part 2 we share recent letters, including updates on at-home celiac tests, how to deal with snarky comments about celiac disease and eating gluten free, and a restaurant chain wanting to improve their protocols in order to provide a safe dining experience for celiacs. We also talk about our celiac walk and more! 

Mike and Cam share some great listener letters in their Summer News and Notes Part 1! There is a definite travel theme going on as Cam also recounts his recent road trip to Colorado which had some epic highs, but landed on a bit of a sour note. We also share a news story about a woman with celiac disease who has the worst plane trip of her life! Along the way we share lots of helpful tips and takeaways to help make sure that all of your summer travel is safe and gluten free.

Mike and Cam take a unique journey into the world of artificial intelligence from a celiac and gluten free perspective. Cam guides Mike down the "rabbit hole" to explore Chat GPT and to see how accurate its answers are to questions they submit about celiac and gluten free living. It gets personal when they ask Chat GPT to answer questions pertaining to them, including some hidden talents that Cam didn't even know he had! An entertaining and eye-opening episode!