GUTSY: The IBD Podcast

We are absolutely thrilled to be joined by writer and actor Fraser Wall, alongside his friend and producer Natasha Cowley. 🎥 In this episode, Fraser opens up about living with Crohn’s Disease and his experience undergoing life-changing, emergency stoma surgery.  Inspired by his own story and the support of his wife, Hayley, Fraser wrote the script for You, Me and the Bag, a deeply personal short...

Next up on Gusty - Professor Richard Russell, Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist.  Professor Russell is a leading clinical researcher in Paediatric IBD with an especially strong interest in the dietary treatment of Crohn’s Disease. He has published hundreds of research papers, the vast majority of them focused on advancing care for children with IBD. 📄 He chairs crucial committees, sits on...

We’re back with another Ask The Experts episode! This time Derek is joined by two of the world’s leading minds in Inflammatory Bowel Disease research: Professor Gwo-Tzer Ho and Professor Konstantinos Gerasimidis. 🧠🎙️Professor Konstantinos Gerasimidis, a clinical nutritionist, has spent the past two decades in Glasgow investigating the role of diet in the cause and management of IBD - from the CD-...

This week we are enlightened to be joined by CJ Hoey who chats in depth to Derek about his IBD journey, mindset and resilience. CJ opens up about living with Crohn’s Disease - how it has made him the person he is today, how it has challenged him and pushed him to achieve things that me may never have otherwise. 💪 From globe-trotting adventures to fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a ski i...

This week we are inspired to chat to the wonderful Steven Sharp: Director of football and top-notch IBD Advocate. ⚽️   From Fauldhouse to Downing Street, Steven has made it his mission to raise awareness and shine a floodlight on the importance of early diagnosis. Turning his pain into purpose, he personally took that message to the Prime Minister, he’s even met Queen Elizabeth II. 👑 Diagnosed w...

This week GUTSY is ecstatic to welcome Hayley Edwards – Writer, Performer and Creator of the solo play Shitbag.  Hayley’s multi-award-winning show tells the story of Crohn’s disease, mania, and casual sex, following a young genderqueer person through an IBD diagnoses, hypo-manic episodes, colostomy bag fears, sex, shit, blood, laughter—and tears. This summer, Hayley brought Shitbag to the Edinburg...

This week GUTSY is thrilled to be joined by the effervescent Lorna Carson - Ironman, personal trainer and IBD advocate.💪 Blazing a trail on and off the track Lorna literally walks the talk. From the West Highland Way to Catherine McEwan Foundation Wellness Walks, she raises awareness, funds and spirits. 🏃‍♀️ Listen in and laugh along with Lorna in this joyful and life affirming episode. 💜

This week Gutsy is saying hello and welcome to Catriona Mill – mum of 2, diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 5 years ago and powerhouse behind @colitiswithcatriona - a vibrant and widely followed voice in the IBD community. Drawing from her own experience living with UC, Catriona shares honest insights and practical guidance for those on a similar path. Her bold approach encourages listening to your...

This week we are thrilled to welcome Liam Robertson - a published writer, dedicated martial artist, and powerful voice in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease community. Using his own journey with Ulcerative Colitis, Liam sparks connection, empowers others and challenges stigma. Through his impactful writing, including his book More Than Meets the Eye: Living With Ulcerative Colitis, and his inspiring p...

Next up on Gutsy The IBD Podcast we are joined by passionate fitness enthusiast and foodie, Alex Pope.  Alex, AKA, @youcancallme_a_ uses her platform to raise awareness and share her real and relatable journey with IBD - alongside a mix of fitness content, home cooked meals, food reviews and recommendations.    In the early days of her diagnosis, while navigating the physical and emotional toll of...

We’re back — and bolder than ever. In the electrifying first episode of Season 2,  GUTSY  welcomes not one, but  two of Scotland’s most respected voices in Gastroenterology . Dr. John Paul Seenan and Dr. Jonathan MacDonald, with over  three decades of combined experience  in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, join host Derek McEwan for a no-holds-barred conversation that puts  you , the GUTSY community,...

In this special episode, we celebrate the bold, the brave, and the beautifully gutsy voices from our first 15 episodes. From raw truths to hard-won triumphs, this showreel captures the heart of what it means to live—and thrive—with IBD. Whether you’ve been here from the start or you’re just tuning in, get ready for a powerful hit of insight, inspiration, and community. This is more than a recap. I...

We are joined by the inspirational Seb Tucknott on the latest episode of GUTSY. Seb has been navigating life with ulcerative colitis since he was 21—nearly two decades of resilience, learning, and growth. A self-proclaimed science geek with a love for problem-solving, Seb finds joy in running, cycling, and getting outdoors. He shares life with his partner Jen—who also lives with ulcerative colitis...

Next up on the GUTSY podcast! 💜We’re joined by the amazing Jen Rose, who has dedicated her life to supporting young patients and families living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at just 10 years old, Jen’s personal journey has shaped her passion for raising awareness of the profound impact of Crohn's & Colitis. 💜 Not only is Jen a mum to a young pa...

In the latest episode of the GUTSY podcast, we sit down with the incredible Cairn Murphy, a man whose journey through misdiagnosed IBD and years of suffering is nothing short of inspiring. 💜After battling through terrible health, Cairn's life was transformed by a life-saving stoma, giving him back the quality of life he’d almost lost forever. But rather than succumb to despair, Cairn turned h...

This week on the GUTSY podcast, we’re doing something a bit different. 💜 Host Derek McEwan is stepping into the spotlight to share his own personal story, with GUTSY friend and all round legend, Aarti Joshi taking the reins as host. 💜While many are aware of Derek's deep connection to IBD, there’s a side of his journey that’s often untold—and it’s time to change that. 💜 As the founder of the...

Next up, we are thrilled to welcome the incredible Jenny Cook, a true inspiration and role model to so many in the IBD community. 💜Diagnosed with colitis at just 4 years old, Jen’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Overcoming unimaginable challenges, including three major surgeries, Jen has not only survived but thrived—turning her experiences into a powerful story of resilience, cour...

On this episode of GUTSY podcast is none other than Stefanie Boyle – a true powerhouse in the IBD world - raising awareness and breaking down barriers! Stefanie is the voice behind the Instagram page, Life With A Stoma, where she shares her journey of navigating life with an ileostomy and living courageously with Ulcerative Colitis. She’s a fierce advocate, and her mission to educate and empower o...

Next up on the Gutsy Podcast, we're joined by Avril Bruce, Catherine McEwan Foundation's very own nurse therapist with over two decades of experience in mental health. Avril has a unique perspective on IBD, not only through her professional expertise but also as a mother to a son living with Crohn's disease. Her insights into the mental health challenges of those living with chronic co...

We’re thrilled to introduce a truly inspiring guest—Jen Wilson, also known as The Healing Rebel. Jen’s journey is one of courage, resilience, and defying the odds. As someone who lives with Crohn’s disease, Jen has taken her personal struggles and transformed them into a powerful platform to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and empower others in the IBD community. Through her voice, her...

This week’s episode of GUTSY features a dynamic conversation between host Derek McEwan and Aarti Joshi, a true multi-talented force in the world of media and entertainment. Aarti brings a wealth of experience to the table, from her background as a radio presenter and podcaster to her role as a music manager, marketing consultant, and life coach. She also shares her journey as the former head of ma...

Get ready for an inspiring and insightful conversation on the Gutsy Podcast as host Derek McEwan sits down with the incredible Mark Brown. Mark opens up about his personal journey with IBD, sharing how it has shaped his passion for self-development and self-care. But that's not all—he delves into the emotional rollercoaster of having not one, but two of his children diagnosed with Crohn’s disease,...

Welcome to this week’s episode of the GUTSY podcast! We’re diving into the inspiring world of the Catherine McEwan Foundation Scholarship, a program that supports incredible individuals living with IBD. Joining host, Derek McEwan are Graeme Rough, who heads up the program, along with two outstanding scholars – former scholar Katie McKitrick and current scholar George Bruce. Both of them are living...

Meet Liam Withnail: the comedian who doesn't just tell jokes, but transforms his own life into a source of laughter. Living with Ulcerative Colitis hasn't slowed down Liam’s comedic drive; if anything, it's made it even more powerful. Liam’s journey with Colitis has come with its challenges—flaring symptoms, unpredictable setbacks, and the constant adjustments to his condition. But through it all,...

In this episode of GUTSY: The IBD Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Vikki Garrick, former IBD Nurse Consultant and now the Director of Patient Services at the Catherine McEwan Foundation. With over 20 years of experience in the field of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Vikki has dedicated her career to supporting those living with chronic conditions in the paediatric field , ensuring they receiv...