UC 422: Microbiome Masterclass with Dr. Brad Leech: Gut Health, Emotions, and the Future of Wellness

In this insightful and passionate conversation, Cyndi O’Meara and Kim Morrison sit down with PhD-qualified clinical nutritionist Dr. Brad Leech to explore the profound connection between gut health, chronic illness, and emotional wellbeing. Dr. Leech dives deep into the world of the microbiome, explaining how our gut bacteria influence everything from autoimmune conditions and eating disorders to depression, immunity, and even relationships. He highlights the impact of diet diversity, antibiotic use, heavy metal toxicity, and medications like PPIs and NSAIDs on gut function. Brad also unpacks fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs), the importance of prebiotics and microbiome testing, and the resilience of our gut when properly nurtured. The trio also navigates hot topics like the carnivore diet, UTIs, the rise in allergies and eating disorders, and the implications of birth methods on the baby’s microbiome. This episode is loaded with takeaways for anyone wanting to optimise their gut, understand the science behind mental and physical health connections, and prepare for a healthier future,starting in the gut. About Brad Dr Brad Leech is a PhD Clinical Nutritionist and Herbalist renowned for his expertise in addressing chronic autoimmune conditions and complex gastrointestinal disorders. He provides complete and personalised care to his patients using functional nutrition, integrative medicine and holistic wellness. After entering the profession in 2008, Brad has contributed significantly to academia, shaping curricula at universities and delving into research areas such as intestinal permeability, autoimmune disease management, and the therapeutic potential of food-based probiotics. Brad is currently an Adjunct Fellow at the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, where he continues to advance natural health sciences. In addition to patient care, Brad is passionate about empowering practitioners with the knowledge to enhance their clinical practice. Over the years, he has mentored thousands of practitioners, providing them with the tools to navigate the complexities of gut health. His program, Brad’s Brainiacs: Microbiome Mentoring, is a six-month online mentorship designed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world application. This mentor program equips recent graduates and practitioners with the skills to interpret microbiome reports, uncover actionable insights, and transform patient outcomes. Top Takeaways: Gut health is connected to chronic disease, mood, immunity, and even behaviour.Prebiotics and microbiome diversity are key to building resilience.Measuring the microbiome every 6–12 months can be as crucial as blood tests.Heavy metal exposure (e.g. lead, mercury) can embed in bones and affect mineral systems.The carnivore diet may offer temporary benefits but long-term gut health requires fiber diversity.Eating disorders can severely impact gut integrity and require a multidisciplinary healing approach.Vaginal births and breastfeeding help build foundational microbiome health, but early exposure to nature can help compensate when that’s not possible Quotes There is more going on in the gut than in the Universe. We are vessels for microorganisms in the gut. I believe in diet diversity and increasing plant foods in the diet. You can train the microbiome. If you have been on antibiotics, get these supplements – Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic (SB), Bifidobacterium (BB-12) and Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO). NSAID’s cause leaky gut. Use outdoor adventures for health including nature, animals, wilderness and rainforest. If you cannot determine what you need use targeted interventions with Dr Brad Where to find Dr Brad Website: www.DrBradLeech.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbradleech/ Cyndi O’Meara Links Website – https://thenutrition.academy/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cyndiomeara/ https://www.instagram.com/thenutrition_academy/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cyndi.lovetto https://www.facebook.com/thechnutritionacademy Kim Morrison Links Website – https://www.kimmorrison.com/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kimmorrison28/ https://www.instagram.com/twenty.8.essential/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KimMorrisonTraining https://www.facebook.com/twenty8essentials