The Tough Gut Playbook: Rebuilding Gut Resilience in IBS-Prone Patients

The Tough Gut Playbook: Rebuilding Gut Resilience in IBS-Prone Patients

55:49 Mar 24, 2026
About this episode
As more patients present with digestive sensitivity and increasingly restricted diets, restoring gut resilience has become a central clinical challenge. In this episode of New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald speaks with Colleen Cutcliffe, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Pendulum Therapeutics, about emerging microbiome science and practical strategies for supporting microbial balance, dietary tolerance, and metabolic health. The discussion explores next-generation probiotic strains, fiber diversity, IBS patterns, and real-world approaches clinicians can use to help patients rebuild microbiome resilience and expand diet diversity in practice. Full show notes + references: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ GUEST DETAILS Colleen Cutcliffe, PhD, is CEO and Co-Founder of Pendulum Therapeutics, where she focuses on advancing microbiome science and metabolic health through next-generation probiotic research. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University and brings more than 25 years of experience across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and academic research. THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR Pendulum Therapeutics - http://PendulumLife.com/Kara20 Email: hello@pendulumlife.com EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR NEW FRONTIERS LISTENERS Using next-generation probiotics like live Akkermansia, Pendulum is designed to go beyond gut health to support metabolism. Visit http://PendulumLife.com/Kara20 and use code KARA20 for 20% off your first membership order. CONNECT with DrKF Want more? Join our newsletter here: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/newsletter/ Or take our pop quiz and test your BioAge! https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/bioagequiz YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKaraFitzgerald/ DrKF Clinic: Patient consults with DrKF physicians including Younger You Concierge: https://tinyurl.com/yx4fjhkb Younger You Practitioner Training Program: www.drkarafitzgerald.com/trainingyyi/ Younger You book: https://tinyurl.com/mr4d9tym Better Broths and Healing Tonics book: https://tinyurl.com/3644mrfw
Select an episode
0:00 0:00