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  • Obesity and Genetics: One Family’s GLP-1 Story

    Obesity and Genetics: One Family’s GLP-1 Story
    2026/09/13
    GLP-1s, food noise, and a family’s weight loss journeyAmanda Bonello sits down with Barb Herrera, Tristan Lora, and Meghann for a candid conversation about how GLP-1 medications changed their lives. The episode covers weight regain after stopping medication, food noise, family support, and the emotional side of long-term obesity treatment.In this episode, Barb shares how major weight loss helped save her life during cancer and heart complications, Tristan explains the cycle of weight loss, regain, and renewed control, and Meghann talks about building a healthier relationship with food while raising a family. Together, they show how community, biology, and consistency shape long-term success.Key topicsBarb shares that she has lost 280 pounds on GLP-1s and says multiple doctors told her that weight loss likely saved her life during cancer and cardiac complications.Barb explains a pacemaker issue caused by dramatic skin laxity after major weight loss, a complication her care team did not anticipate.Tristan describes how a 2001 bicycle accident led to major weight gain, years of cycling between loss and regain, and a return to GLP-1 treatment after regaining weight off medication.Meghann shares that she lost 125 pounds, started a YouTube channel to connect with others, and found that many of her struggles with bingeing, fast food, and food noise were more common than she thought.The family talks about food noise as a biological and psychological force, not a lack of willpower, and how GLP-1s gave them relief from constant cravings and shame.Tristan describes how food and alcohol both functioned as addictions for him, and how the medication helped him experience meals without compulsion for the first time.Meghann and Barb reflect on how family roles changed as weight loss allowed more mobility, more independence, and less physical strain.The group discusses the cost of eating out before treatment and how GLP-1s reduced both impulsive eating and food spending.Barb and Tristan discuss compounded medications, branded options, and how insurance coverage or cash pay affects access and continuity of treatment.Exercise and muscle preservation come up as a major concern, with all three noting that resistance training, DEXA scans, and strength work helped them stay active and monitor progress.Timestamps00:00 - Barb arrives, surgery complications, and setting up audio03:44 - Recording begins and Amanda explains the documentary format09:31 - Family introductions and each person’s GLP-1 journey11:19 - Barb’s cancer history, pacemaker surgery, and 280-pound loss13:48 - How severe obesity affected mobility and daily life at home16:44 - Tristan’s weight gain after a car accident and lifelong activity18:09 - Why GLP-1s finally matched hard work with real results21:23 - Food insecurity, addiction patterns, and the roots of weight cycling24:41 - Meghann’s YouTube channel and why community matters28:30 - Tristan on alcohol, food addiction, and the first shot experience31:20 - Eating because the body needs it, not because the brain demands it34:02 - Meghann on fast food, childhood food habits, and weight gain triggers36:24 - Why “being gentle” still did not stop regain for Tristan38:18 - Repeating meals, removing food decisions, and simplifying life40:12 - Barb on dieting history, McDonald’s fries, and lifelong compulsions41:22 - Meghann on drive-thru autopilot, shame, and food rituals42:39 - Why the shame lifted once GLP-1s quieted food obsession46:41 - Food spending before and after GLP-1 treatment49:22 - Barb on private eating, alcohol calories, and switching medications51:50 - Guilt, genetics, and family risk across generations53:05 - Brand-name versus compounded medications and access challenges55:08 - Tristan on stopping medication, regaining weight, and learning from it58:17 - Food noise returning off medication and the decision to restart59:15 - Strength, resistance training, and why GLP-1s are not “the easy way”62:58 - Meghann on muscle loss, motivation, and building a healthier life65:10 - Barb’s memoir, Meghann’s Substack, and closing thoughtsKey frameworksFood noise as a constant biological pressure rather than a simple habit issue“Great equalizer” as Tristan’s description of how GLP-1s helped his effort finally pay offRemoving food decisions as a strategy for reducing mental load and impulsive eatingWeight loss as life expansion, not only scale change, through mobility, energy, and confidence Get full access to GLP-1 Studio at newsletter.glp1studio.com/subscribe
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    55 分
  • Why Recycle GLP-1 Sharps

    Why Recycle GLP-1 Sharps
    2026/05/07

    Episode Summary

    For Earth Day, I had Cheyenne Parish and Omar Al-Midani back on the show from PureWay Compliance. We talked about the same thing we talked about last year (safe sharps disposal for GLP-1 patients) except this time I had data to back up everything that surprised me the first time around. I've been on a GLP-1 for 18 months and stacked weekly NAD+ injections on top for six of those months. The container is still only three-quarters full. The math is wild.

    We talked about how PureWay's microwave-based recycling process actually works. We also covered what's new at the company since last year, including their redesigned consumer site for at-home users. The biggest thing I keep coming back to: most GLP-1 patients are never told their manufacturer offers a free sharps container as part of patient support. Plus we have an Earth Month discount and a free container giveaway for three Studio listeners.

    Guest Bios

    Cheyenne Parish is the marketing specialist at PureWay Compliance, leading the company's consumer outreach and influencer partnerships. Omar Al-Midani is co-founder and president of PureWay, which uses a proprietary microwave-based sterilization process to recycle plastic from used sharps containers. PureWay is the exclusive partner of PPSWG, a consortium representing more than 365 pharmaceutical producers focused on safety and sustainability.

    In This Episode

    [00:00] Earth Day reunion with Cheyenne and Omar from PureWay

    [02:25] Easy ways to get a free sharps container

    [03:44] How PureWay's proprietary recycling process actually works

    [04:46] Why safe sharps disposal matters for sanitation workers and the planet

    [06:42] What's new at PureWay over the past year

    [08:49] How they simplified waste management for at-home consumers

    [10:42] PureWay's AI integration into operations

    [14:04] Why corporate sustainability gatekeeping misses the bigger picture

    [18:22] What actually happens when sharps go in the household trash

    [21:22] Practical steps for safe sharps disposal at home

    [23:53] What NAD+ actually is and why I take NR instead

    [26:34] Why doctors don't always know about preventative supplements

    [33:39] How patient communities reshape what companies offer

    [36:55] The exclusive PureWay × PPSWG partnership with 365+ pharma companies

    [44:20] The microwave technology that recycles the plastic

    [50:12] How to enter the Earth Month giveaway

    [53:10] The water and energy cost of AI and modern waste systems

    [54:43] Closing thoughts on small habits that scale

    Resources & Links

    PureWay Compliance:

    Consumer site (the one you want for at-home use): purewayathome.com

    Main corporate site: pureway.com

    Instagram: @purewaycompliance

    LinkedIn: PureWay Compliance

    Earth Month discount code: Use EARTH20 at purewayathome.com for 20% off, good through 5/13/2026.

    💉💖 Giveaway entry: Three GLP-1 Studio listeners win a free 1.4-quart mail-back disposal system. To enter:

    1. Follow @purewaycompliance and @amanda.bonell0 on Instagram2. Repost the giveaway post and tag someone who could use a safer disposal option



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    48 分
  • Your Employer Can Cover Your GLP-1 Without Insurance

    Your Employer Can Cover Your GLP-1 Without Insurance
    2026/04/08

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    Have you lost GLP-1 coverage through your employer? Or maybe you never had it to begin with? In this episode, Amanda sits down with Jay Bregman, founder and CEO of Andel, to break down a real solution that exists right now. Andel is one of more than 18 vetted partners inside Eli Lilly's Employer Connect program, and it is built differently from every other option on that list. No PMPM fees. No administrative overhead. No prior authorization. A membership fee under $10 per fill and a direct-to-employer price already lower than Lilly's own cash pay option. Amanda shares the data on why employers dropped coverage in the first place, what it is actually costing them not to cover it, and what the research says about productivity, morale, and talent retention when employees have access or lose it. Plus exactly how to refer your own employer to the program in five minutes without waiting for HR to figure it out.

    GUEST BIO

    Jay Bregman is the founder and CEO of Andel, a healthcare technology platform enabling high-cost medications including GLP-1s to be accessible through employer benefits. A serial entrepreneur with 20-plus years of experience, he previously co-founded Hailo, the first pan-European ride-hailing company later acquired as Lyft Europe, and founded Thimble, acquired by S&P 500 insurer Arch Insurance.

    Website: andel.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jaybregman Company: linkedin.com/company/joinandel

    IN THIS EPISODE

    [0:00] Jay's background and how watching Senate drug pricing hearings sparked the idea

    [3:30] What the word "andel" means and why the cooperative model is the foundation

    [6:40] The Lilly Zepbound KwikPen direct-to-employer partnership explained

    [13:00] The full confirmed pricing breakdown and what an employee actually pays

    [17:00] Why the platform fee is the same for small and large employers

    [19:00] How the employee experience works from app download to next-day delivery

    [24:00] Employer ROI, productivity gains, and the business case

    [29:00] The research on employees who lost GLP-1 coverage and what it showed

    [33:00] Why Andel is expanding beyond GLP-1s to all high-cost employer drugs

    [51:00] Nonprofit partnerships and the 5% profit fund for underserved patients

    RESOURCES MENTIONED

    Refer your employer now: andel.org/referral

    Andel main site: andel.org

    Andel on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/joinandel

    Jay Bregman on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jaybregman

    Lilly Employer Connect launch announcement: fiercehealthcare.com/payers/eli-lilly-launches-its-direct-employer-platform-obesity-drugs

    Lilly Direct cash pay pricing: lillydirect.com

    Aon GLP-1 multi-year study: aon.com/en/insights/articles/workforce-focused-analysis-on-glp-1s

    Kristi Turner episode — Lost GLP-1 Coverage Through Employer: glp1studio.substack.com/p/lost-glp1-coverage-through-employer

    Jennifer Sansabrino episode — GLP-1 Coverage for Teens: glp1studio.substack.com/p/glp1-coverage-for-teens-one-moms-fight

    GLP-1 Access and Contact Congress: glp1studio.substack.com/p/contact-congress-for-glp1-access

    Obesity Action Coalition: obesityaction.org

    STRONG Framework white paper: glp1strong.com

    RELATED EPISODES

    Lost GLP-1 Coverage Through Your Employer — Kristi Turner glp1studio.substack.com/p/lost-glp1-coverage-through-employer

    GLP-1 Coverage for Teens — Jennifer Sansabrino glp1studio.substack.com/p/glp1-coverage-for-teens-one-moms-fight



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    54 分
  • Bariatric Surgery vs GLP-1 Medication: Treating Obesity as a Disease

    Bariatric Surgery vs GLP-1 Medication: Treating Obesity as a Disease
    2026/03/22
    Episode Title: Bariatric Surgery and GLP-1s Are the Same Treatment — with Stephanie Wagner, MS RDN | The Bariatric Food CoachEpisode Description:If you've ever felt like you failed after bariatric surgery — or after stopping a GLP-1 — this episode is for you. Registered dietitian and Bariatric Food Coach Stephanie Wagner, MS RDN joins Amanda Bonello to break down exactly how bariatric surgery works, why it boosts your body's own GLP-1 production, and what actually happens when weight comes back. Spoiler: it's not a character flaw. It's biology.They cover every type of bariatric surgery (sleeve, bypass, lap band, duodenal switch, SADI-S), the hormonal science behind each one, and why adding a GLP-1 medication after surgery isn't starting over — it's continuing your treatment. Plus the insurance code that might be unlocking free dietitian visits you didn't know you had.In This Episode:Why bariatric nutrition and GLP-1 nutrition are almost identical — same disease, different toolsA plain-English breakdown of gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, lap band, duodenal switch, and SADI-SHow bariatric surgery hijacks your hormones (in the best way) — and why that effect fades over timeWeight regain after bariatric surgery: the biology behind it and why you never failed your treatmentMotivational interviewing and why the counseling side of obesity care matters as much as the clinical sideThe insurance code 97802 — call your insurer and ask if you have Medical Nutrition Therapy benefits. Many private plans cover unlimited dietitian visits at zero out-of-pocket costHydration tips that actually stick, straight from Atomic HabitsQuote of the Episode:"If we truly viewed obesity as a chronic disease… then bariatric surgery and GLP-1 medications are treatments, not tests you pass or fail." — Stephanie Wagner, MS RDNAbout Steph WagnerStephanie Wagner, MS RDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in bariatric surgery patients since 2009 and the founder of Bariatric Food Coach. She is the author of Best Fork Forward: Everyday Dinners After Weight Loss Surgery — 60 high-protein recipes, 30 minutes or less, with a photo for every single one.🌐 bariatricfoodcoach.com📸 Instagram: @bariatricfoodcoach📘 Facebook | 🎥 YouTube | 📌 Pinterest: Bariatric Food Coach📖 Best Fork Forward on Amazon [💰 AFFILIATE LINK]Premier Access Membership from $19/month — HSA/FSA eligible. Nearly 700 recipes, GLP-1 video course, AI meal planner, and an active community running since 2015.Resources MentionedBest Fork Forward by Steph Wagner — Amazon [💰 AFFILIATE]Atomic Habits by James Clear — habit science behind the hydration tips [💰 AFFILIATE]Insurance code 97802 — Medical Nutrition Therapy. Call your insurer and ask.doTERRA food-grade essential oils — one drop in your water bottle, lasts forever, costs almost nothing[BACKLINK: Dr. Lindsay Ogle episode — she introduced Amanda to Steph]Timestamps00:00 — What is a Bariatric Food Coach?02:25 — Dietitian vs. nutritionist vs. health coach: what actually matters07:27 — Steph's own weight loss journey and the stigma inside the profession10:07 — Why nutrition counseling fails people — and what motivational interviewing fixes16:28 — Amanda's family member: GLP-1, then surgery, no support throughout22:22 — Every type of bariatric surgery explained in plain English29:28 — The shame of weight regain and why you never failed your treatment30:05 — How bariatric surgery boosts natural GLP-1 — and what happens when that fades33:48 — "You never fail chemotherapy." The analogy that changes everything39:11 — Insurance code 97802 and free dietitian access44:54 — Best Fork Forward, the AI meal planner, and the online community51:05 — Hydration tips that actually workSubscribe to GLP-1 Studio on Substack for the full written companion piece to this episode — with the science sourced and linked. glp1studio.substack.comWhen you advocate for yourself, you advocate for all of us.Disclosure: GLP-1 Studio is a for-profit media company founded by Amanda Bonello. The GLP-1 Collective is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit, also founded by Amanda Bonello. These are two distinct legal entities. GLP-1 Studio does not receive funding from the GLP-1 Collective, and the Collective does not direct or fund the editorial content produced by GLP-1 Studio. This content was not sponsored or commissioned by any pharmaceutical company, telehealth provider, or clinical organization. Steph Wagner did not pay for her appearance. This content contains affiliate links. If you purchase through those links, GLP-1 Studio may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Get full access to GLP-1 Studio at newsletter.glp1studio.com/subscribe
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    58 分
  • Safe Drugs Act & State Bills Threaten Compounded GLP-1 Access

    Safe Drugs Act & State Bills Threaten Compounded GLP-1 Access
    2026/02/12

    Here’s a clean, professional Show Notes section you can use:

    Show Notes

    In this episode, I’m joined by Sabina Hemmi, founder of GLP Winner, to break down the growing wave of federal and state legislation targeting compounded GLP-1 medications.

    We discuss:

    Why transparent GLP-1 pricing matters

    How GLP Winner helps patients compare clinics without deceptive funnels

    The federal Safe Drugs Act and emerging state bills

    How some legislation could impact all compounding, not just GLP-1s

    What this means for hospice care, pediatrics, veterinary medicine, and more

    Why patient advocacy at the state level matters right now

    The real-life side effects and lived experience behind the policy debate

    If you live in a state where legislation is moving, contact your representative and share your story. Patient voices are making a difference.

    Connect with Sabina

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawliepopInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawliepops/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawliepopX/Twitter: https://x.com/lawliepopSubstack: https://substack.com/@lawliepopLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabina-hemmi/

    Resources

    Visit GLP-1 Studio for the latest bill updates and advocacy tools.



    Get full access to GLP-1 Studio at newsletter.glp1studio.com/subscribe
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    1 時間 1 分
  • The Shotsy App: A GLP-1 Tool For Self-Advocacy

    The Shotsy App: A GLP-1 Tool For Self-Advocacy
    2026/01/10

    In this episode of the GLP-1 Studio Podcast, host Amanda Bonello sits down with Aja Beckett, founder of Shotsy, to talk about GLP-1 self-advocacy, personalized dosing, and the moment everything changes when food noise finally goes quiet.

    Aja shares her personal GLP-1 journey, including navigating insurance barriers, prior authorizations, and paying hundreds of dollars a month just to access care. Together, Amanda and Aja unpack why obesity is a chronic disease, not a willpower problem, and why “eat less, move more” has failed so many people.

    They also explore how tracking symptoms, side effects, and dosing patterns can empower patients to have better conversations with their doctors, especially when standard titration schedules don’t fit real bodies or real lives.

    This conversation is about more than an app. It’s about dignity, access, and finally understanding that it’s not your fault.

    Follow Aja:

    - 🌐 Website- 📱 Instagram- 💻LinkedIn (Aja)- 💻LinkedIn (Shotsy)- 📱 TikTok

    In This Episode, We Cover:

    - Aja’s experience living with obesity, Hashimoto’s, and chronic inflammation- The reality of GLP-1 access, insurance denials, and high out-of-pocket costs- What “food noise” really is and what it feels like when it turns off- Why one-size-fits-all dosing doesn’t work for most patients- How tracking data can support self-advocacy with doctors and insurers- Navigating maintenance when there is little to no clinical guidance- Letting go of shame and reclaiming your right to care

    Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding your health and treatment decisions.Learn more and listen here:

    - 🎙️ GLP-1 Studio Podcast- 🎧 Spotify- 📱 Apple- 📖 SubStack- 💻 YouTube



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    45 分
  • What BioCare & Robard Are Getting Right About GLP-1 Nutrition and Support

    What BioCare & Robard Are Getting Right About GLP-1 Nutrition and Support
    2025/12/23

    In this episode of the GLP-1 Studio Podcast, host Amanda Bonello speaks with Caroline Colavita of BioCare Nutrition and Mario Testa of Robard Corporation about nutrition support for GLP-1 patients and the realities of modern weight loss care.

    This conversation covers protein intake on GLP-1 medications, muscle preservation, body composition data, and how companies like BioCare and Robard are adapting clinical nutrition support for today’s GLP-1 and obesity-care landscape.

    Topics discussed:

    - Nutrition support for GLP-1 patients- Protein intake and muscle preservation during weight loss- Body composition scans and data-driven reassurance- Lead concerns in protein supplements and third-party testing- BioCare Nutrition’s patient-centered approach- Robard’s long history in clinical nutrition programs- Community and trust in GLP-1 care

    The GLP-1 Studio Podcast focuses on patient education, lived experience, and vetted resources for people navigating GLP-1 medications and obesity care.

    Disclosure:This interview and episode were not sponsored. Amanda Bonello is a BioCare affiliate and may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to listeners. BioCare separately compensated Amanda for a specific in-store video, which did not influence this episode or discussion.



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    56 分
  • "Ozempic Saved My Life" But What Happens When Coverage Stops?

    "Ozempic Saved My Life" But What Happens When Coverage Stops?
    2025/11/21
    People reach out to me all the time, in emails, and DMs, with their tiny digital smoke signals, all carrying the same quiet, desperate heartbeat:Please… tell me how to stay on the medication that finally gave me my life back.Some come in hopeful. Some sound like the last exhale before slipping underwater. Every single one reminds me this isn’t a side project, it’s the line between staying afloat and being pulled under.But when Cherie Shanholtz showed up in my inbox, her message hit different.The subject line read: “Desperate help needed for life-saving medication.”Cherie’s Story: A Life RebuiltCherie once weighed nearly 380 pounds.Severe obesity.Insulin resistance.Metabolic syndrome.All the things society labels as “choices,” when in reality her biology had been stacking the odds against her for decades.When she finally got on Ozempic, her world bloomed like a flower and she flew out of it reborn, a little fairy with pixie dust still on her wings.“Ozempic Saved My Life.”Cherie lost over 235 pounds.Her blood pressure came down. Her cholesterol improved. And her breathing finally stopped acting like a full-time job.She could move without hurting, and actually live in her body instead of going twelve rounds with it every day.But this is the part we don’t focus on enough. GLP-1s don’t just give you great selfies, they give you selfhood. She told me, “I always dreamed of wearing beautiful, feminine clothes,” and for the first time in her adult life, she could actually put them on and feel like the woman she’d imagined as a little girl.Joy in feeling beautiful is not vanity. It’s deeply human, and she deserved every bit of it.…for the first time, I can wear clothes that make me feel beautiful and truly like a woman again.”“I finally can look in the mirror without flinching.”Some people have concerns about GLP-1s causing depression or suicidal thoughts… no honey. The reality for most of us is the opposite.What’s actually depressing is living with chronic inflammation, constant pain, exhaustion, shame, judgment, and being blamed for things you were never in control of to begin with.When your body stops fighting you, your mind finally gets to breathe. The weight isn’t just physical, it’s emotional. And losing it gives you back pieces of yourself you thought were gone forever.Cherie could finally see herself again.And just when she started to trust that this otherworldly experience was real, her insurance ripped the carpet out from under her.A Lifeline Pulled AwayFor six months, her insurance covered the medication that made all of this possible. And then out of nowhere it just stopped. No warning. No explanation. One day she was covered, and the next she was stranded.Cherie paid $800 out-of-pocket trying to hold her life together. * She sold belongings. * Skipped essentials. * Pushed her mental health beyond its limits. Eventually she found a compounded option, cheaper but still too much after months of bleeding herself dry.And the stress, the crushing fear of losing the body she fought for, cost her her job.“The overwhelming depression and anxiety—not just from losing my lifeline, but from the fear of regaining the weight and losing all that I had worked so hard for—are the main reasons I lost my job.”This is what GLP-1 patients are actually living when people call these “vanity drugs” and giggle when they get taken away. This isn’t about Instagram angles. This is survival.A BMI of 40 or higher can mean up to “14 years of life lost.” But beyond the stats, there’s a heavy mental health toll.Imagine having the freedom to:* Fly without a seatbelt extender. * Eat in a restaurant without the side-eye. * Shop in the “regular” section instead of being relegated to the plus-size aisle.* Buy clothes because you like them, not because they’re the only thing that fits.* Ride a roller coaster.* Take a photo with friends without hiding behind them.* To feel human.Imagine finally getting a glimpse of what “normal” feels like, holding the things other people don’t even notice… and then watching every single one of them slip through your fingers.Imagine standing there, helpless, as your own life starts playing in reverse. Like watching a rerun you never wanted to see again, only this time you can’t look away. You know exactly how it ends… and the dread settles in your bones long before the credits roll.This is the difference between functioning and falling apart.Cherie is still fighting, and I’m helping her with every tool I can. But stories like hers are only going to become more common as we head into 2026.“This struggle has affected every part of my life, but I’m still fighting.”Help Cherie hang in there 🙏Disclaimer: I don’t get a cent from the button above. This is Cherie’s GoFundMe, that she created and manages herself. I am simply sharing it for her with hopes that some big hearted individuals will be willing to help a ...
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    23 分