Emeran Mayer – Biological Interconnectedness

In this episode, Wendy speaks with gastroenterologist, author, and microbiome researcher Emeran Mayer. Emeran is a world renowned expert in the connections between the gut and the mind, and brings a biological lens to the concept of interconnection. This conversation covers many topics, including:

• his interest in mind-body connection;

• microbiome overview & current questions;

• how we've inherited systems of communication from microbes;

• gut-brain connections, and the concept of the "second brain";

• how meditation might affect our microbes;

• gut-immune connections;

• the importance of barriers, and what goes wrong in "leaky gut";

• barrier compromise as common core of nearly all chronic disorders;

• stress and diet as key factors affecting our gut permeability;

• what we can do to protect our gut;

• equity issues around healthy food access;

• the gut as a sense organ;

• reductions in the diversity of microbes on the planet;

• the role of antibiotics and environmental destruction;

• development of the microbiome in pregnancy and infancy;

• implications for our concept of self;

• balance between reductionism and embracing complexity in science;

• and the need for more of the feminine archetype in our world.

Full show notes and resources (podcast.mindandlife.org/emeran-mayer)