Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Colleen Cutcliffe (on the microbiome)
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Feb 18, 2026 
Colleen Cutcliffe, a biochemistry and microbiology PhD and CEO/co-founder of Pendulum Therapeutics, built targeted microbiome interventions. She discusses how sequencing unlocked microbiome science. She shares animal microbiome tales, why fecal transplants cure C. diff, the role of Akkermansia and gut barrier analogies, microbes that stimulate GLP-1, and why strains plus fiber matter for lasting change.
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Health = A Resilient Microbiome
- A 'healthy gut' means resilience: the ability to recover from assaults like antibiotics, stress, or travel.
- You can rebuild a less-resilient microbiome later in life by restoring key strains and feeding them properly.
Akkermansia Protects The Gut Lining
- Akkermansia muciniphila maintains gut-lining integrity by renewing the 'glue' between epithelial cells.
- Losing this strain links to leaky gut and food sensitivities, but targeted supplementation can restore the lining.
Get Probiotics To The Right Place
- Avoid cheap probiotic capsules; use enteric-coated, time-release formulations to reach the distal colon.
- Take probiotics with food to reduce stomach acidity and improve survival to the target site.
