Celiac Straight Talk

March is Autoimmune Awareness Month, and we've compiled presentations from a collection of experts on autoimmunity to tie together how celiac disease research can help us unlock all kinds of autoimmune diseases. 

 Hear from Dr. Arnold Han, Dr. Iain Croall, and Dr. Sónia Gonçalves Pereira on their work studying autoimmune diseases, celiac disease, and the effect had on the body.

 Listen anywhere you find your podcasts!

Learn more about celiac disease and the research Beyond Celiac is funding at BeyondCeliac.org 💚

We spoke with Julie Kennedy, MPH, MEd, RDN, LDN about falling in love with food again after a celiac diagnosis or other medical diagnoses managed with a dietary restriction.

Julie shares her celiac diagnosis story, and how, upon learning how difficult switching to a 100% gluten-free diet can be, she went back to school to pursue dietetics to help others fall in love with food again.

Find Julie Kennedy at www.juliekennedynutrition.com/.

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In our first Celiac Straight Talk episode of the year, Beyond Celiac Senior Director of Coalition and Patient Engagement Kate Avery chats with President of the International Society for the Study of Celiac Disease Dr. Bob Anderson about a satellite meeting ISSCD did in conjunction with the Tampere Celiac conference in 2025. 

Kate and Dr. Anderson discuss progress being made in the field of celiac, and how research has helped us progress our understanding of celiac disease and autoimmunity in general. 

Be sure to check us out on social media at @BeyondCeliac. Learn more and donate at...

Telling someone you eat gluten-free can elicit a wide variety of responses, from sympathetic and accommodating to curious and confused, or even skeptical and derisive.

Some conversations are tough to navigate, especially during the holidays, when many folks are reconnecting with family members or spending time with old and new friends. In this event, we offer tips on handling all these conversations. 

So brew your favorite warm drink and settle in for a Town Hall with Beyond Celiac!

Thanks to our partners at Takeda Pharmaceuticals for sponsoring this epiosde.

You can f...

Birthday parties, holidays with the family, celebratory team dinners after extracurriculars, or a simple gathering with friends: all can be fraught with tension when you're gluten-free.

It's tough to relax and have fun when you're constantly worrying about getting sick or being the odd one out. As patients ourselves, Beyond Celiac staff gives you our top tips for not just managing but enjoying parties when you're gluten-free.

This episode is possible because of support from DiGiorno! 

You can find all episodes of Celiac Straight Talk anywhere you listen to podcasts and on our w...

In this episode of Celiac Straight Talk, Beyond Celiac Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Debra Silberg fact-checks celiac disease myths and misconceptions. She answers our questions about who can get celiac disease (answer: just about anyone!), as well as some unique symptoms that present in celiac disease, and whether or not you can grow out of it. 

Thank you to Dr. Silberg for taking the time to answer our questions!

Thank you so much to Takeda Pharmaceuticals for their continued support of our disease awareness campaign and research towards treatments for celiac disease. 

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In this episode of Celiac Straight Talk, we are joined by Beyond Celiac Director of Scientific Affairs Amy Ratner, who kindly agreed to interview our guest, Dr. Ciaran Kelly of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on his experience diagnosing celiac disease. 

You can find all episodes of Celiac Straight Talk anywhere you listen to podcasts and on our website at BeyondCeliac.org.

Thank you so much to Takeda Pharmaceuticals for sponsoring this episode of Celiac Straight Talk and their commitment to supporting disease awareness and celiac disease patients. 

Did you know that July is Disability Pride Month? One of our amazing Reach Beyond Celiac Ambassadors Ilana C. reached out to host a disability pride roundtable episode with myself and other Reach Beyond Celiac ambassadors Ella S. and Tara P. We had an amazing conversation about what it means to have celiac disease in a world designed for people who can eat gluten, and a bit of history and our thoughts on disability pride. Ilana also shares some stories of legal cases regarding celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. Listen to hear more!

You can find...

Happy Pride! In this chatty episode of the podcast, Beyond Celiac Social Media Coordinator Lauren and gluten-free chef and content creator Matt Weinstein talk about identity, both his diagnosis and coming out stories, and eating gluten-free during food-centric Pride celebrations.

Enjoy the episode!

Find Matt on Instagram and TikTok at @glassofweinstein!

Be sure to follow @BeyondCeliac.

Dr. Iain Croall, PhD, MRes, BSc and Jordan Dubow, MD discussed how eating gluten can affect neurological health in those with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity and answered community questions about neurological health and the gut-brain connection.

This event is possible thanks to our sponsor, Crunchmaster!

On this episode of Celiac Straight Talk, Celiac Cruise founder Maureen Basye sat down to chat with Social Media Coordinator Lauren Wallach and Associate Director of Communications Bailey Arman about the mission of Celiac Cruise and what it's like to vacation in a 100% gluten-free environment. 

We're so grateful to Celiac Cruise for their support of the gluten-free community, and their passion for creating safe spaces for those with celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders to be able to travel without fear.

To learn more about Celiac Cruise, their eight cruises remaining in 2025 and the 13 scheduled f...

In our new episode of Celiac Straight Talk, we discussed the future of celiac research through Beyond Celiac Investments! We spoke with Eric White, Director of Business Development and Strategic Alliances at Beyond Celiac. We unpacked the concept of venture philanthropy, and how exactly BCI is making its mark on the future of celiac research. 

Eric is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst with more than 18 years of experience in institutional investing, responsible for investment decisions totaling more than $2.5 billion. He began working with Beyond Celiac in 2020, designing Beyond Celiac Investments (BCI), a venture philanthropy investment program to a...

In this episode of Celiac Straight Talk, we chatted with Lauren of @eat.glutenfreewithme!

Lauren is a passionate health and wellness creator focused on gluten-free living and autoimmune health. Living with Celiac disease, IBS, and Crohn's, she has transformed her personal journey into a mission to inspire and empower others with autoimmune conditions to take control of their health and thrive. We discussed our love-hate relationship with the gluten-free diet, her journey to creating content about living with autoimmune conditions, and what it's like living somewhere where the gluten-free diet is a fad.

Follow Lauren's...

Lauren chatted with two of our amazing Reach Beyond Celiac Ambassadors Rochelle and Paige about their experiences as parents of young children with celiac sending their kids back to school. This conversation was fun, informative, and enlightening, as well as supportive—if you're looking for tips for talking with your child's teachers, or just to listen to people who understand your experience, this is the episode for you! 

Find this episode and all our episodes of Celiac Straight Talk at https://www.beyondceliac.org/news-events/podcast-series/. Thanks again to Paige and Rochelle for being on the podcast.

Our social media coordinator Lauren chats with two of our AMAZING Reach Beyond Celiac Ambassadors about their experiences with summer camp. Alyssa and Daniel share their insights about attending summer camp as a person with celiac in both camper and counselor roles. They discuss the pros and cons of bringing your own food, non-GI symptoms flaring up at camp, and how meaningful camp friendships can be. 

To hear more episodes of Celiac Straight Talk, head to https://www.beyondceliac.org/news-events/podcast-series/.

Many with celiac disease often report feeling isolated, awkward, and disheartened as they navigate the world on a gluten-free diet. But the future is bright, and there are tools you can use to maneuver the social landscape and cope with the burden of a chronic illness.

In this Town Hall celebrating both Celiac Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Anava Wren discusses her work on the social and psychological impacts of celiac disease, and shares her top tips for combatting that isolation.

Dr. Wren is a pediatric celiac psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor...

Beyond Celiac spoke with Australian researcher Dr. Jason Tye-Din about a few of the controversies in celiac disease. In this Town Hall, moderated by Director of Scientific Affairs Amy Ratner and Director of Research and Patient Engagement Kate Avery, MPH, Dr. Tye-Din discusses the safety of eating oats, a potential blood test that doesn't require the gluten challenge, and monitoring adherence to the gluten-free diet with GIP tests.

To hear more episodes of Celiac Straight Talk, head to https://www.beyondceliac.org/news-events/podcast-series/.

Liz (@yeet.that.wheat) has been living with celiac disease for 4 years and creates content focusing on health equity, advocacy, and living a fulfilling gluten free life. She uses her experience as a Black woman with celiac to talk about being gluten free through an intersectional lens. Through social media, she aims to create a supportive community for folks who are navigating living gluten free through educational posts, recipes, product recommendations, restaurant reviews, travel, tips and tricks, and of course, memes. 

In this casual conversation, Liz chats about her jump to social media upon her celiac disease d...

In this minisode of Celiac Straight Talk, Beyond Celiac CEO Alice Bast speaks with Casey Walters about the challenges of having a young child with celiac disease.

Alice's personal journey as a celiac disease survivor and champion for research in this field, coupled with her prior experience of more than two decades in healthcare business development and marketing, taught her that patients need to be educated and empowered with solid information in order to make decisions about their desired health outcomes.

Casey is a PR professional with experience working in the consumer technology space handling...

Amy Ratner joined Beyond Celiac in 2016 as the medical and science news analyst to provide coverage of celiac disease research news. She has extensive experience reporting on and writing about celiac disease. She was editor-in-chief, associate editor and contributing editor for 23 years at Gluten-Free Living magazine, where her work touched on all topics related to celiac disease, including lifestyle, diet, nutrition, and medical and research developments.

When Amy's daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease as a toddler 31 years ago, she was set on a path that combined her commitment to improving life for those with celiac disease...

In winter of 2023, Beyond Celiac welcomed Debra Silberg, MD, PhD, FACG as our new Chief Scientific Officer and Jordan Dubow, MD, as our new Chief Medical Officer. In this Town Hall, Dr. Silberg and Dr. Dubow unpack their backgrounds and what's in store for Beyond Celiac research in 2024, as well as a Q&A segment about celiac disease.

Discussions include topics such as the neurological impact of celiac disease, explanations of grant funding, and clinical trials for treatments.

This event was possible thanks to our sponsor, Takeda, and the ILLUMINATE trial. Learn more at the I...

Arnold Han, MD PhD, of Columbia University, was awarded the 2022 Beyond Celiac and SSCD Early Career Investigator Grant to investigate the role of CD8 T-cells in celiac disease. Thus far, Dr. Han's innovative research has found more precise ways that gluten sets off damage to the intestine in those who have celiac disease, which he believes could help in the development of innovative approaches to finding a treatment. In our discussion, Han reveals what he's discovered so far through this research and where he hopes it leads in the future.

Special thanks to our friends at Crunchmaster C...

In this episode of Celiac Straight Talk, Beyond Celiac CEO Alice Bast interviews Jackson Dunckel, CFO of AMG, an eco-friendly manufacturing company. Jackson shares his celiac story in a candid conversation, from his delayed diagnosis in 2002 to managing his health today. In particular, Jackson shares his perspective as a long-time diagnosed man managing this serious genetic autoimmune disease.

In this episode, Beyond Celiac staff recount our recent accomplishments and projects—when we aren't podcasting, you can rest assured that we are working hard to improve the lives of celiac disease patients everywhere!

This episode is a recording from our in-person Community Summit event, which happened September 30, 2023 in Greenwich, Connecticut. 

Listen to Celiac Straight Talk wherever you find podcasts.

In this heartfelt episode of Celiac Straight Talk, join Beyond Celiac CEO Alice Bast as she sits down with special guest Dylan Dreyer, beloved co-host of the 3rd hour of TODAY. The conversation delves into a candid exploration of Dylan's journey when her six-year-old son, Calvin, was diagnosed with celiac disease. From the initial shock of the diagnosis to the practical steps and emotional nuances of transitioning Cal to a strict gluten-free diet, this episode offers a genuine and relatable discussion about the challenges and triumphs faced by one family.

Gain insights into the resilience, adaptation, and...

This episode of Celiac Straight Talk is a dive deep into inspiring stories and advocacy for health and wellness. In this thought-provoking episode, Beyond Celiac CEO Alice Bast sits down with renowned TV personality Jenna Wolfe for a candid discussion on patient empowerment.

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on all things celiac disease! Get all the episodes of Celiac Straight Talk wherever you get your podcasts. 

This is a recording of the "Living Your Best Gluten-Free Life" panel from our 2023 Community Summity. It features four gluten-free influencers, Phil, Liz, Erin and Emily, discussing how they've tackled their health conditions and thrived on the gluten-free diet. 

Phil is the creator behind @PhilHatesGluten, a popular TikTok and Instagram account. He uses humor to allieviate the burden of managing eosinophilic esophagitis. 

Liz Purvis is a celiac disease advocate and content creator (@yeet.that.wheat on Instagram and TikTok) living with celiac disease. Her content focuses on health equity and her experience as a Black wo...

In this episode, we sit down with Juanita Belton, PA-C, MPH, physician assistant in gastroenterology and Director of Patient Empowerment at Color of Crohn's & Chronic Illness (COCCI). COCCI was created to improve the quality of life for BIPOC who are affected by IBD, digestive disorders, and associated chronic illnesses through community, research, education, and advocacy. Juanita gives tips for talking with your doctor about your unique health needs. 

Learn more about Celiac Straight Talk at https://www.beyondceliac.org/news-events/podcast-series/ 

Ambassadors Hayden and Alyssa join podcast coordinator Leah Popovic as they discuss what it's like to experience an athletic life style with celiac disease. 

To hear more episodes of Celiac Straight Talk, visit https://www.beyondceliac.org/news-events/podcast-series/

We sat down with Arturo Chacón Cruz to learn just how he manages to stay gluten-free while traveling all over the world to sing opera, as well as his advice for convincing others that, while the gluten-free diet can be annoying, your health is worth it.

To hear more episodes of Celiac Straight Talk, visit https://www.beyondceliac.org/news-events/podcast-series/

Dr. Hilary Jericho became a part of the Stanford University team at the beginning of this year, working for the newly developed celiac disease program at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Learn about how Dr. Jericho's research in the psychosocial effects of celiac disease has made an impact on the Bay area.

To hear more episodes of Celiac Straight Talk, visit https://www.beyondceliac.org/news-events/podcast-series/

Looking for gluten free restaurants in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania? Look no further! Meet Jeff Vilson, the creator of Gluten Free Lehigh Valley—a platform where the gluten-free community can connect with peers, doctors and more. This project is pioneering an effort to make celiac disease and gluten intolerance better understood not only in Lehigh Valley, but in communities across the country. 

By sharing her DIY interior design creations on TikTok, Emily Shaw became a social media sensation practically overnight. Shaw, who renovates spaces and repurposes budget household items, has nearly six million followers on TikTok alone, and has dedicated her career to this niche craft. Something her fans may not know is that she happens to have celiac disease, an autoimmune disease. 

As a true innovator, she's learned to nimbly navigate her newfound fame while managing celiac disease. Get to know how Shaw persisted despite her symptoms and what the future holds for her growing digital pl...

In March, Beyond Celiac teamed up with Dr. Mark Davis, the Director of the Stanford Institute for Immunity, for a town hall session on t-cell dynamics in autoimmunity. Join us in learning about the importance of human studies and how the development mitochondrial physiology can help those suffering from non-GI symptoms of celiac disease.

Looking for an authentic gluten-free Italian meal? Teona Khaindrava will happily provide at Senza Gluten, located in the heart of Greenwich Village, New York City. Khaindrava, who opened the business in 2014, trains her hard working staff to prepare gluten-free pasta, cocktails, desserts and more while adhering to traditional Italian recipes and techniques. Learn how Senza Gluten has heightened the dining experience for people with celiac disease, as well as their mission to spread awareness.

Kayla King has been living with celiac disease for over 17 years, "centering her life" around food and maintaining a safe, healthy diet. After receiving a business degree and becoming a nutrition coach, King recently launched MyMeal, an app helping people with restricted diets find restaurants which cater to their needs. Learn about how King is using online advocacy to change the way people with celiac disease, chronic illnesses and allergies can safely go out to eat.

Our webinar from January 19, 2023 discusses some of the biggest celiac disease news and research from the past year. Learn about what is to come with these discoveries and how patients come upon a proper diagnosis, as well as celebrating the organization's 20 years of searching for life-changing services.

Join Podcast Coordinator Leah Popovic as she speaks to well renowned actress and producer Sam Doumit about her experience living with a wheat allergy. Doumit, who starred alongside Rob Schnieder in the film "The Hot Chick," provides insight to working in Hollywood with dietary restrictions, as well as how her attitude and self-advocacy has played a role in her health today.

In this episode, we chat with two renowned gastroenterologists, Dr, Benjamin Lebwohl and Dr. Ritu Verma, about the role genetic tests and biopsies play in diagnosing celiac disease. What can these tests tell us about a patient's health? Are they necessary to diagnose celiac disease? The conversation is followed by a community Q&A. 

Dr. Lebwohl and Dr. Verma are members of The Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (SSCD). The SSCD is a professional organization of physicians, nurses, dietitians, and allied health professionals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico who specialize in th...

In this episode, we chatted with Colleen and Libby, two sisters who were diagnosed with celiac disease at the same time, shortly after their older brother was diagnosed. Their story emphasizes the importance of getting relatives tested, regardless of symptoms, and sheds light on what it's like to grow up with celiac disease today. 

This episode is sponsored by imaware. Use our code to get a discount on at-home testing kits!