Health Podcast Library
Season 2Episode 5

First Responders & Chronic Stress

Aug 31, 2026
52:21

Episode Description

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.

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Transparency Statement: Gut Matters: Discoveries and Innovations is produced by Believe Limited 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.

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