Episodes

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

    Bariatric Surgery vs GLP-1 Medication: Treating Obesity as a Disease
    Mar 22 2026
    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 glp1studio.substack.com/subscribe
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    58 mins
  • Safe Drugs Act & State Bills Threaten Compounded GLP-1 Access

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

    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 glp1studio.substack.com/subscribe
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • The Shotsy App: A GLP-1 Tool For Self-Advocacy

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

    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



    Get full access to GLP-1 Studio at glp1studio.substack.com/subscribe
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    45 mins
  • What BioCare & Robard Are Getting Right About GLP-1 Nutrition and Support

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

    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.



    Get full access to GLP-1 Studio at glp1studio.substack.com/subscribe
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    56 mins
  • "Ozempic Saved My Life" But What Happens When Coverage Stops?

    "Ozempic Saved My Life" But What Happens When Coverage Stops?
    Nov 21 2025
    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 mins
  • Dr. Nina Crowley: Director of Clinical Education and Partnerships at SECA

    Dr. Nina Crowley: Director of Clinical Education and Partnerships at SECA
    Nov 14 2025
    There are people in obesity care who make everything click: the science, the humanity, the why behind the numbers. Dr. Nina Crowley is one of those rare souls.She’s a Registered Dietitian, Health Psychologist, and bona-fide Body Composition Expert who has spent two decades in the obesity-care trenches helping both patients and clinicians do better by people living in larger bodies.She leads Clinical Education and Partnerships at SECA – Precision for Health, serves on the Board of Directors for the Obesity Action Coalition, and somehow still finds time to host her own podcast, In the Know with Nina. She’s wicked smart, deeply compassionate, and the kind of educator who can explain complex research without ever talking down to you. Think science in stilettos.In The Know With NinaI first met Nina through Dr. Lindsay Ogle (one of my favorite obesity specialists and a beloved Season One guest of the GLP-1 Studio Podcast.) Lindsay has this uncanny talent for connecting people who were clearly meant to collaborate, and Nina was no exception. We hit it off immediately.I had the privilege of being featured on her show, where we talked about advocacy, access, and freedom from food noise. At that time Nina joined me to record the episode you’re reading about now, where she makes “bioimpedance vector analysis” sound like plain English… a magic trick, honestly.We wrapped the interview, sent it off for editing, and I figured the story would pause there for a moment… ObesityWeekFast-forward. I arrived at ObesityWeek representing the GLP-1 Studio Podcast and was heading back to my hotel when the universe decided to get playful. I didn’t just see one familiar face. I saw three.Nina, Mike on a Mission, and Zach Niemiec.Nina was instantly recognizable because she was in the middle of a handstand in front of the Olympic rings at Centennial Olympic Park. It was a pose I’d seen often in her LinkedIn posts, and it was pretty easy to assume this woman knows how to have fun when you see her flipped upside down with a smile on her face at every serious conference.We laughed, took a selfie, and promised to catch up later. Unfortunately, later never happened because reasons, but there will absolutely be a next time. And my story with Mike and Zach? Historical relevance that deserves a chapter of its own later. And that tiny bit of serendipity ended up mattering more than I expected.SECA ExhibitHere’s where the universe pulled its little full-circle moment: the episode we recorded together, this episode, was already in queue. I had just spent an hour listening to Nina re-explain, in detail, how the SECA system measures fat, muscle, and water using something called bioimpedance analysis.Then I’m walking the exhibit floor with my GLP-1 girl gang and there it is. A full on SECA exhibit: 2 machines, and a giant screen that displayed the results.Historically, sharing my stats would make me want to melt into the floor like a spilled latte, but let’s be real, we were all on GLP-1s and the whole point of this journey was to stop hiding and start self-advocating.Besides, it felt like fate was tapping me on the shoulder saying:The GLP-1 Girlies Get ScannedNaturally, my friends wanted in, and it’s a good thing we jumped in when we did. It was practically a mosh pit by the time we finished.One by one, they got scanned, all of them landing solidly in the healthy muscle range. Our resident fitness baddie, was nearly off the charts.Then I stepped up to the plate and when my results flashed onto the big screen, my jaw dropped. Now I didn’t just understand the data… I felt it.When The Data Becomes PersonalThis wasn’t your average bathroom scale. The vibrations running through my legs sent me, and seeing those charts was giving MRI without the MRI.This was the exact science Nina had explained on the podcast, but now it was in living color with my name on it. I realized something important. I didn’t just understand it before. I only thought I did. This time it actually landed.The NumbersBMI said average but “overweight,” but my skeletal-muscle index told a different story. It said healthy, strong, and absolutely capable. And for the first time in my life, getting weighed in public didn’t make me shrink. It made me curious.The scan told me I had a healthy amount of muscle, but that I could stand to build about two more pounds. It wasn’t judgmental. It was factual.Weight: 179.9 lbsBMI: 27.4Fat Mass: 71.4 lbs (about 40%)Fat-Free Mass: 108.5 lbs (about 60%)Skeletal Muscle: 50.6 lbsRecommended Goal: Gain 2 lbs of muscleWas the number on the scale flattering? Absolutely not. But let’s be honest, I’m on a GLP-1 for a reason. These numbers weren’t an insult; they were a road map.And that small note, gain two pounds of muscle, became a healthy, science-based, totally achievable goal.Girl, Get Your Protein OnBioCare makes protein specifically for the GLP-1 girlies. It helps you hit your protein goals and stay ...
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    43 mins
  • The Biggest Announcement in GLP-1 Patient History

    The Biggest Announcement in GLP-1 Patient History
    Nov 11 2025

    GLP-1 Studio Podcast – Studio Special

    Host: Amanda Bonello

    On November 6th, 2025, the White House announced pricing agreements with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk that could reshape GLP-1 access for millions of Americans.

    For the first time ever, Medicare and Medicaid will cover GLP-1 medications for obesity—with just a $50 copay. Brand name medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound are coming down to Most-Favored-Nation pricing, finally putting Americans on par with what other countries pay.

    Discounted cash pay prices through TrumpRx are expected by the end of 2025. The full Medicare and Medicaid rollout is expected by April 2026.

    For those who've been rationing doses, going without, or watching every door close—there is finally hope.

    In this episode:

    What the TrumpRx program means for pricing

    How Most-Favored-Nation pricing works

    What changes for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance

    What this moment means after a year of advocacy

    Resources:

    Full pricing breakdown chart in the article below

    Data sources: White House Fact Sheet (11/6/25), Eli Lilly & Co. press release (11/6/25), Novo Nordisk company announcement No. 32/2025

    Connect with Amanda Bonello and the GLP-1 Studio Podcast: Learn more at GLP1Studio.com

    Disclaimer: This content is for informational and advocacy purposes only. It reflects my personal understanding of recent policy announcements and publicly available information. I am not a medical professional or government representative. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical advice and check official sources for current policy and coverage details.



    Get full access to GLP-1 Studio at glp1studio.substack.com/subscribe
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    7 mins
  • Nicky Cayan: PROTEIN AND PEPTIDES

    Nicky Cayan: PROTEIN AND PEPTIDES
    Oct 25 2025
    Nicholas Cayan, better known on TikTok as @nicky_glp1wellness, joined me for this episode to talk about how GLP-1 medications helped him lose weight and gain muscle. Yes, gain it.When I first stepped into this space, there were a lot of questions with few answers. One of the loudest was, Is muscle loss inevitable? And when singer Avery shared that she developed osteoporosis and osteopenia after 1 year on Ozempic, it dialed the drama to max.Spoiler alert: that story had layers far beyond the medication itself. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.People like Nicky give the rest of us a reason to exhale. His TikToks aren’t just progress updates, they’re proof that some muscle loss is expected with any weight loss, but it’s not inevitable in a harmful way. Pair GLP-1 therapy with enough protein, consistent resistance training, and patience, and you can preserve muscle strength, and often even improve it, though individual results vary and the research is still evolving.Protein, Peptides, and PurposeNicky’s journey started with his doctor literally telling him, that he couldn’t believe he was alive. “…and he’s like, oh my God, I can’t believe you’re alive. And I’m like, why? He’s like, your A1C is ridiculous. And I was like, oh, like I knew it was gonna be high, but I was like, like how high? And so he’s like, your A1C is like, I think he said it was a 12.3, 12.5. And I was like, oh, that’s not too high. He’s like, you’re supposed to be under six. And I’m like, oh, well then yeah, that’s kind of high.”In the beginning, when Nicky went looking for guidance, he found a gap big enough to drive a truck through. Most of the creators he saw online were already deep into maintenance or women whose experiences, like lady cycles, side effects, even appetite patterns, didn’t line up with his own. So he made a decision that changed everything: he’d start documenting his own journey. At first he could barely stand the idea of taking selfies. He eased in with bathroom-and-gym mirror shots, half-torso only, because full-body pics felt like too much. Months later, scrolling back, he realized his camera roll had quietly shifted: “When did I start taking full-body selfies?” Confidence had crept in, one rep and one snapshot at a time.Nicky’s feed is a time capsule of consistency. You can literally scroll back through his videos and watch the change happen in real time.His hope is to inspire, educate, and motivate:“Prior to my journey, I was eating fast food every single meal… two, three, sometimes four times a day because I was just hungry. Now I spend it on protein powder and peptides.”This line landed and I knew what I had to do next.The Studio Shop is officially open! You can grab your GLP-1 apparel and help support my independent advocacy, this podcast, and Nickaaayyy himself. The Protein & Peptides T-shirt and hat, inspired by this episode, are available below or on TikTok Shop, where you can even get a refundable sample!The Protein and Peptides tank and hat are a nod to that exact moment. But my favorite part? The inner tag reads GLP-1 Studio Season 2 | Episode 7, marking where this quote was first said.On Stigma and StrengthNicky didn’t just share his strengths, he also shared his experience with the mental aspect “that people don’t really talk about.”“Nobody talks about the mental part,” he said. “Everyone talks about the weight, the snacks, the numbers… but the emotions are a whole different thing. You could make a whole podcast just about that.”He talked about how hard it can be to accept compliments now, how he never got them before, and he doesn’t know how to feel.“I feel a little awkward,” he said. “I’m not used to compliments. It brings back childhood stuff. I just say thank you, but I don’t really know what to do with it.”That moment reminded me of something Dr. Angela Tran shared in her interview on The GLP-1 Studio Podcast. She said:“…but I always warn people, hey, tell me how you felt when someone told you you were skinny because that can really bring a whole gamut of things you have to work through also. So that’s part of like the whole management of this medication is not just the side effects, but it’s just sort of like the changes around you that you don’t even see.”Dr. Tran was right. It’s not just a physical transformation, it’s emotional. Even positive attention can stir up old memories and insecurities. And Nicky was the first to admit that we don’t talk about that enough.The physical changes are measurable, but the emotional ones are just as real and just as important to acknowledge.Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to support my independent advocacy efforts. 💖Amazing TransformationsIn our conversation, Nicky admitted that he didn’t think his story was amazing enough.“I don’t think my story is really significant compared to other guests that you have, you know, that have ...
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    59 mins