Celiac Project Podcast

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!

It has been a rough few weeks for Mike! What he initially thought was the stomach flu turned out to be so much more! In hindsight, Mike unpacks part of the mystery as to what might have caused some of his recent digestive issues. He chronicles his health scare to Cam, and the stress of having to stay in the hospital. He also shares some near miss moments of getting gluten and tips on how you can stay safe at the hospital.

To conclude our special Celiac Awareness Month podcasts, Mike and Cam sit down with Dr. Marty Linseisen. Marty has the unique point of view of being a doctor whose celiac disease diagnosis directly coincided with finishing medical school. He shares his dramatic story of diagnosis, which included many missteps along the way. Marty's own celiac journey has made him passionate about raising awareness, busting myths, and helping advocate for the celiac community. 

Mike and Cam welcome dentist and oral health educator, Melissa Ing. Melissa is passionate about raising awareness about celiac disease within the dental community. She is at the forefront of dental research and education, and talks to us about her efforts to bridge the gap between the medical and dental health professionals as it relates to celiac disease. Melissa shares some of her tips about how to make sure you are approaching your dental health in the best ways possible. 

A native of India and currently studying abroad in the UK, celiac advocate, Annika Dhariwal, has been working to raise awareness about celiac disease in India. Diagnosed as a child, Annika created her own website, Gluten Free Jio, finding countless ways to help raise awareness and support the celiac community. Annika's story and message are truly inspiring--she is a great asset to the celiac and gluten free community!