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The Mel Robbins Podcast

The Gut Health Episode: Harvard Doctor Reveals What’s Normal (and What’s Not)

The Mel Robbins Podcast

SiriusXM Podcasts

Health & Fitness, Society & Culture, Education, Self-improvement, Mental Health, Relationships

4.715.3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 March 2026

⏱️ 97 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If you’ve ever wondered whether your bloating is normal, what your poop is supposed to look like, or why your stomach seems to have a mind of its own… you are definitely not the only one. This conversation is hilarious, science-backed, and packed with the answers to questions we all have but rarely ask. By the end, you’ll understand your body better, feel less embarrassed about what it’s doing, and finally have a practical guide to taking care of your gut instead of guessing. Today, Dr. Trisha Pasricha is here to answer every question you’ve been too embarrassed to ask out loud. Dr. Pasricha is a Harvard Medical School physician-scientist, a board-certified gastroenterologist, director of the Institute for Gut-Brain Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the longtime “Ask a Doctor” columnist for The Washington Post. She’s also the author of the new book You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong. She’s funny, brilliant, and completely unafraid to talk about the things most doctors avoid, from poop and bloating to hemorrhoids, colon cancer risk, and the surprising ways your gut influences your mood and brain. In this episode, you’ll learn: -What a normal poop looks like and when you should go to a doctor -Why you’re bloated and what to do about it -Why looking at your phone on the toilet dramatically increases hemorrhoid risk (and the 5‑minute rule every GI doctor follows) -The #1 mistake make that causes constipation -Why more young people are getting colon cancer, and the early warning signs of colon cancer you should never ignore -What your gut is telling you about your stress and mental health -The simple habits that support digestion, gut health, and long-term wellness This is the ultimate no shame conversation that will help you finally understand how to listen to your gut. Dr. Pasricha will change the way you think about digestion, gut health, and yes, even poop. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page. If you liked the episode, check out this one next: Change Your Body & Your Life in 1 Month: 4 Small Habits That Actually Work Connect with Mel: Order Mel’s new product, Pure Genius Protein Get Mel’s newsletter, packed with tools, coaching, and inspiration. Get Mel’s #1 bestselling book, The Let Them Theory Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Mel on Instagram The Mel Robbins Podcast Instagram Mel's TikTok Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes ad-free Disclaimer

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey, it's your friend Mel, and welcome to the Mel Robbins podcast.

0:08.7

Let me start with a confession.

0:10.3

I have wanted to do an episode on this topic for years because there are a few things that we all think about.

0:17.5

We all deal with.

0:18.7

And yet somehow we don't say them out loud. And you want to know

0:22.8

what that topic is? Gut issues. At the top of that list, bloating, constipation, gas, IBS, and yes,

0:32.9

you and I, we're going to talk about poop. I can't even say that word without laughing. Because if you have

0:39.6

gut issues, welcome to the club. That's the majority of people alive today. And for the longest time,

0:46.7

I was dealing with bloating that made no sense. I would wake up feeling totally fine.

0:51.7

And by midday, my jeans are tighter. My stomach is bulging out.

0:56.3

I'm uncomfortable. In fact, it's happening right now. It's probably because I have high-wasted

1:00.1

jeans on. And I would be thinking, what is going on? I have family members who are always backed

1:06.5

up, especially when we travel, friends who will not poop at work, they hold it in all day long.

1:13.6

So today, you and I are getting curious because we ignore our gut way more than you should.

1:20.2

Mostly probably the same reason I do, you're embarrassed or confused, or maybe you've told yourself,

1:25.1

I just have gut issues. This is how it's always going to be.

1:28.4

Today, we're changing that. This episode is the ultimate, no shame, ask everything.

1:36.2

Gut health conversation with one of the top neuro gastroenterologists. I said that right, I think,

1:44.0

neuro gastroenterologists in I said that right, I think, neuro gastroenterologists in the world.

1:47.9

Today we're talking about what's normal when it comes to poop and what's not.

1:52.4

The hidden reason why you may be struggling with bloating, constipation, and more importantly,

1:57.1

exactly what you should do about it. The shocking research that will make you never want to

...

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