Welcome to Gut Matters: Discoveries and Innovations, a podcast dedicated to helping IBS patients take back control of their symptoms and lives. Hosted by Johannah Ruddy, M.Ed., IBS patient advocate and researcher, and Dr. Andrea Shin, a gastroenterologist and IBS expert, this show dives deep into digestive health. Join us as we share inspiring patient stories, chat with guest experts, and deliver the latest insights on managing IBS—all with a dash of humor. Whether you're a patient or a healthcare provider, we've got something for you.
From Patient Stories to Public Policy: How Patient Advocacy Creates Real Change
In this episode of Gut Matters, Johanna speaks with Paul Pereira, Senior Vice President of Patient Advocacy, Government Affairs, and Public Policy at Ardelyx, about how the different functions of his job intersect to shape patient care.
Paul shares the personal story of how his father's journey with dialysis led him to Ardelyx. He also shares how his son's diagnosis with various G.I. conditions, and the insurance battles that ensued, led him to become a patient advocate. Together, Paul and Johanna discuss how patient advocacy becomes public policy, navigating government, and why simply making the introduction to your elected official can open new doors for patients.
Gut Matters is produced by BloodStream Media and made possible by Ardelyx.
Content Producer: Mishu Nitulescu.
At Ardelyx®, we are dedicated to improving the lives of patients by discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class medicines that advance care to patients with unmet medical need. Learn more about us at Ardelyx.com
Transparency Statement: Gut Matters: Discoveries and Innovations is produced by Believe Limited (http://believeltd.com/) and made possible by Ardelyx®.
The following Ardelyx®-supported program is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare professional before making any medical decisions.
31 Aug 2026
First Responders & Chronic Stress
On this episode of the Gut Matters podcast, co-hosts Johannah Ruddy and Dr. Andrea Shin are joined by Dr. Tiffany Duffing, a licensed clinical psychologist and US Army veteran, and Mike Wynn, director of the Quell Foundation's First Responder Resilience Project, to explore the gut-brain connection in veterans and first responders. The conversation covers how chronic stress, PTSD, and hypervigilance can drive IBS symptoms, particularly constipation, through top-down and bottom-up nervous system dysregulation. The guests share evidence-based interventions like diaphragmatic breathing, gut-directed CBT, and clinical hypnosis, while Mike offers a candid look at the cultural barriers to seeking care in law enforcement and the Quell Foundation's video-based mental health training programs now rolling out to agencies nationwide.
Gut Matters is produced by BloodStream Media and made possible by Ardelyx.
Content Producer: Mishu Nitulescu.
At Ardelyx®, we are dedicated to improving the lives of patients by discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class medicines that advance care to patients with unmet medical need. Learn more about us at Ardelyx.com
Transparency Statement: Gut Matters: Discoveries and Innovations is produced by Believe Limited (http://believeltd.com/) and made possible by Ardelyx®.
The following Ardelyx®-supported program is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare professional before making any medical decisions.
16 Jun 2026
Beyond the Bumper Sticker: What Patient Centricity Really Means
On this episode of Gut Matters, host Johannah Ruddy sits down with Ardelyx CEO Mike Raab and Chief Patient Officer Dr. Laura Williams to explore what patient centricity truly means in practice, not as a corporate buzzword, but as a guiding principle that shapes company culture, strategy, and decision-making. Mike shares how formative experiences in rare disease at Genzyme inspired his commitment to putting patients first, while Laura recounts how her own health scare and career journey from treating HIV patients to leading advocacy deepened her understanding of the patient experience. Together, they discuss how embedding the patient voice across every function, from clinical trial design to policy advocacy, creates a ripple effect that transforms not just outcomes, but the soul of a company.
Gut Matters is produced by BloodStream Media and made possible by Ardelyx.
Content Producer: Mishu Nitulescu.
At Ardelyx®, we are dedicated to improving the lives of patients by discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class medicines that advance care to patients with unmet medical need. Learn more about us at Ardelyx.com
Transparency Statement: Gut Matters: Discoveries and Innovations is produced by Believe Limited (http://believeltd.com/) and made possible by Ardelyx®.
The following Ardelyx®-supported program is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare professional before making any medical decisions.
Who has been a guest on Gut Matters: Discoveries & Innovations
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr Laura Williams
Rebecca Kaplan
Dr Lori Keefer
Sue Edelstein
Andrea Shin
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
55
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Gut Matters: Discoveries & Innovations
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Gut Matters: Discoveries & Innovations
Who hosts Gut Matters: Discoveries & Innovations?
Dr Andrea Shin and Johanna Ruddy host the show. Published by BloodStream Media.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Gut Matters: Discoveries & Innovations take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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