Advertise on podcast: Butts & Guts: A Cleveland Clinic Digestive Health Podcast

Bariatric endoscopy offers incisionless weight loss options for people looking for an alternative to traditional bariatric surgery. Stephen Firkins, MD, gastroenterologist and Co-Director of Advanced and Bariatric Endoscopy for the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic, joins Butts & Guts to explain procedures such as endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), who may benefit and what patients can expect before and after treatment.

In this episode of Butts & Guts, Dr. Kevin Wissinger, a general surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Florida, discusses inguinal hernias, including common signs and symptoms, how they’re diagnosed and when treatment may be needed. He also discusses watchful waiting, surgical repair options and the role of mesh in hernia repair.

What can you do to reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer? Robert Simon, MD, general surgeon and hepatobiliary/pancreatic specialist at Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease Institute, discusses pancreatic cancer risk factors, symptoms and screening, including the role of family history, genetics and lifestyle.

Constipation is common, but when is it more than just an occasional problem? In this episode of Butts & Guts, Cleveland Clinic Florida gastroenterologist, Dr. Monica Multani, discusses the causes of constipation, the role of fiber and hydration, and safe treatment options to help keep your digestive system moving. Learn when lifestyle changes may help, when it's time to seek medical care, and how healthy bowel habits support digestive and gut health.

Are you experiencing pelvic pressure, urinary leakage, constipation or symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse? In this episode of Butts & Guts, Dr. Anna Spivak explains pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary and fecal incontinence, rectal prolapse and other common pelvic floor disorders. She discusses symptoms, risk factors and treatment options available through Cleveland Clinic's multidisciplinary Colorectal Center for Pelvic Floor Disorders.

In this episode of Butts & Guts, Dr. Ebram Salama, colorectal surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Florida, discusses perianal abscesses and anal fistulas, two common causes of anal pain, swelling, drainage and recurrent infection. Learn when these conditions need medical attention, what treatment options are available and what recovery may look like after fistula surgery.

At just 26 years old, David Lyon never imagined that his symptoms would lead to a diagnosis of stage 4 colorectal cancer. After learning his cancer had spread to his liver, David underwent treatment, surgery and ultimately a liver transplant. David joins Dr. Scott Steele and transplant surgeon Dr. Alejandro Pita on this episode of Butts & Guts to share his remarkable journey, the importance of not ignoring symptoms and how the multidisciplinary team at Cleveland Clinic helped save his life.

On this episode of Butts & Guts, Dr. David Krpata, a Cleveland Clinic general surgeon and hernia specialist, explains what a hernia is, the most common hernia symptoms and how they are diagnosed and treated. Learn when a hernia may require medical attention, what to expect from hernia surgery and recovery, the role of hernia mesh and the full spectrum of treatment options available for hernia repair.

Do you have trouble swallowing or feel like food gets stuck when you eat? In this episode of Butts & Guts, Dr. Fady Asslo, gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic Florida, explores dysphagia, a common swallowing disorder. He discusses dysphagia symptoms (including choking and coughing while eating), causes, the latest treatment options and when swallowing difficulties may be a sign of a more serious condition.

Is fibermaxxing just a social media trend, or is dietary fiber truly the key to better gut health? In this episode of Butts & Guts, Cleveland Clinic Registered Dietitian Julia Zumpano separates fact from hype, covering the gut microbiome, fiber-rich foods, fiber supplements, bloating, constipation, IBS and why most Americans aren't getting nearly enough fiber to support their digestive health.

Explore how Shubha Bhat, PharmD, an clinical pharmacist at Cleveland Clinic, helps inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients navigate a complex and evolving landscape of treatments, from traditional medications to advanced biologics and specialty therapies. Learn how pharmacists play a critical role by improving access, guiding treatment decisions and helping patients achieve better outcomes.

Dr. Robert Naples, general surgeon for the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Butts & Guts podcast to break down exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). He discusses who is most at risk, current treatment options, the importance of early detection and why it can be so difficult to diagnose this often misunderstood condition.

Intestinal transplants are saving lives, and the field has never been more advanced. Masato Fujiki, MD, Surgical and Program Director of the Intestinal Transplant Program at Cleveland Clinic, breaks down why rejection rates have dropped dramatically, and how transplant oncology is opening doors for cancer patients.

Chronic pelvic pain affects millions of people, but its deep connection to digestive health is often overlooked. Dr. Ashley Gubbels, Director of the Center for Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain at Cleveland Clinic, joins the Butts & Guts podcast to explore how conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis, and gut microbiome imbalances can interact with and amplify pelvic pain. Listen to learn how patients are finding relief — and hope.

In this episode of Butts & Guts, Kristin Louden, an Obesity Medicine nurse practitioner at Cleveland Clinic, cuts through the noise surrounding GLP-1 weight loss medications. She clears up common myths from social media, discusses the results patients can realistically expect and shares what other options are available if GLP-1 medicines aren’t a good fit.