Celiac Project Podcast

The life of a college athlete has may challenges. Add into that mix having celiac disease, and there can be many added speed bumps along the way. Laura Carpenter, a former college soccer player, explains what it was like to navigate the world of college athletics while being away from the safety net of her home and family for the first time. Laura also offers great tips to students and their families, athletes or not, on important factors to look for and think about when looking at schools.

Thanksgiving can present unique challenges to people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. This year we have the added strain of dealing with COVID-19. Mike and Cam discuss what the changes will be for them this year as well as tips on how to stay safe during the holidays. They also share their insights on using the pandemic as an example for how careful we have to be in our lives avoiding gluten.

Lori Welstead, Registered Dietician and Nutritional Advisor at the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, joins Mike and Cam to share her own incredible story of her celiac diagnosis. Lori also talks about her approach working with newly diagnosed celiac patients. We also hear about the University of Chicago's upcoming Celiac Disease, Autoimmunity & Beyond virtual symposium that is coming up on Saturday, November 21st. 

Mike and Cam are excited to be joined by Jeanne Reid and Laura Allred of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). They share the big news with us that GIG is changing the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO) seal, the GF in the circle that we have all come to know and trust over the years. We learn the details and thought process behind this decision and why it will benefit the celiac and gluten free community moving forward.

Mike and Cam sit down to discuss three new fascinating studies that were done in conjunction with The Celiac Disease Foundation's, iCureCeliac Patient Registry. We also talk about the early results of research just in time for Thanksgiving. This one showed that combining turkey amino acid (tryptophan) with probiotics was found to reduce gluten-triggered inflammation and improve the response to a gluten-free diet in people with celiac disease. 

This week we wrap up our Fall News and Notes podcast with a couple of uplifting messages from our listeners, an update on how the Nourished Festival went including shout outs to the companies who sent us some samples to try. On that topic we discuss examples of some of the struggles that gluten free businesses are having during this time and what we can do to support the small companies and restaurants who are working so hard to support us.

Mike and Cam sit down to discuss some of the current topics in the celiac and gluten free world, and also read some letters from our amazing listeners. In part one of this special two part fall episode, we share a listener's emotional family story, talk about a promising study about how gluten being introduced to infants might impact them getting celiac disease, and the latest on the Nima sensor situation.

It has been treacherous navigating daily life during the COVID outbreak. Students with celiac returning to school have been put under extra stress, as many schools have fewer resources devoted to students with celiac or other food intolerances. Some colleges have abandoned special food programs all together. Andrea Tucker is working hard to support students and their families who are facing these obstacles. She has a Facebook group Gluten Free College 101 and is announcing a new subscription platform to provide this very important support.

Disability Rights Attorney, Mary Vargas, returns to the podcast representing her clients in two landmark cases within the celiac community. J.D., whose case against Colonial Williamsburg sent shockwaves through the celiac and gluten free community, and Hannah, who's involved in a case against the University of Maryland. Both courageous guests share their experiences about these tough situations, how and why they decided to go to court, and their long term hopes about how their cases can hopefully effect positive change moving forward.

Returning author and blogger, Debbie Simpson of Gluten Free Respect, has just released her newest book "Gluten Free: The Emotional Side of Dietary Differences." Debbie, Mike and Cam have a frank discussion about the emotions that come with having celiac disease or gluten intolerance, and some of the steps and challenges that they all experienced in order to move through their lives both pre-diagnosis and post.

Nima was recently sold to the company Medline, and not everything has gone so smoothly. Most importantly, people who rely on the Nima have found that replacement capsules are no longer available for purchase. It has been difficult finding answers from Medline, so Mike and Cam want to share the latest on the situation and offer some of their thoughts and ideas that could make things easier moving forward.

The pandemic has affected so many businesses, and for the Gluten Free Expos and Festivals more people attending these large gatherings means more success. So Jen Cafferty, the founder of everyone's favorite gluten free and allergy friendly Expo, the Nourished Festival, didn't just fold up her tent when COVID-19 struck. Instead, she got right to work creating an innovative new online platform. Learn all about the amazing work that Jen is doing to bring this exciting version of the Nourished Festival to you!

You don't need us to tell you that this has been a summer like no other,. That said, Mike and Cam each want to take some time to reflect on the top five things that have kept us in a positive head space during the pandemic. We are so honored that you choose to listen to us each and every week and bringing the podcast to you is certainly high on our list of things that are keeping us moving forward. Thanks for your support!

Mike and Cam are pleased to sit down with returning guest, Josh Schieffer, owner and founder of the Gluten Free Buyers Guide and Gluten Free Awards. Josh gives us a fascinating look behind the scenes at how the Buyers Guide and Awards are put together, including how you, the consumer, ultimately pick the winners! Josh also tests Mike and Cam's Springsteen knowledge with a unique quiz bridging "The Boss" and gluten free.

Blogger and world wide traveler, Jen Fitzpatrick, of the Nomadic Fiztpatricks, has found creative ways to bring travel home during the pandemic. Though most of us aren't doing much extended travel right now, including Jen, she is bringing various cultures to her home by cooking different world cuisines and then taking a deep dive into each given culture.  She is also exploring her own town and community in ways she hadn't done before. Also hear about her exciting new E-book coming out this September.

Cam recently had his first ever camping experience with a couple of buddies. Despite being a novice, he brought his A-game to this adventure. He became the de-facto chef for the excursion, and in doing so, made this mere camping trip into much more of a high end outing. In fact, Mike introduces the term glamping to Cam and believes that he might just be a full on "Glamper."

In part 2 of our dynamic conversation with attorney, Mary Vargas, we revisit the historic J.D. v. Colonial Williamsburg case and talk about the outcome and why this was such a landmark case for defending the rights of those with celiac and food allergies. We also talk to Mary about a current case in which she is representing a former University of Maryland student who was given far from equal treatment by the food services at the school.

Attorney, Mary Vargas, has been a maverick dealing in cases concerning Disability Rights. This week, Mary shares how she became interested in Disability Law and her thoughts on the FDA temporary policy change on food labeling requirements. Next week in part 2, Mary updates us on her client's well publicized and historic case, J.D. v. Colonial Williamsburg and also shares another dramatic case involving a celiac student at the University of Maryland.

People with celiac disease or gluten intolerance are constantly monitoring what we put in our bodies, but what about what you put on your body? Our guest, Dr. Liia Ramachandra, co-founder and CEO of Epilynx, has made it her mission to formulate skincare products that are safe for people with celiac disease, allergies and other autoimmune conditions. She also makes a hand sanitizer that is safe for your skin and not on the long and scary list of recalled hand sanitizers out this week.

We have way too much fun in part 2 of our summertime spectacular featuring Cam's dad, Brian and Mike's nephew, Sam. Topics include summer grilling, both meat and meatless options, some amazing donuts that Sam has fried up, and a seltzer that tastes a little too much like suntan lotion. Mike and Cam also realize during the podcast that Mike's affection for seltzer is likely greater than the three of them combined.