Rephonic
Artwork for Wrestling the Octopus
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn's Disease
Colonoscopy
Ulcerative Colitis
Colorectal Cancer
London, United Kingdom
Medical Cannabis
Biologic Therapy
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
London
Intestinal Ultrasound
Gut-Brain Axis
Iron Deficiency
Stoma Care
Bile Acid Malabsorption
Bile Acid Diarrhea
Bowel Cancer
Low FODMAP Diet
Infliximab
Gastroenterology

Two long-term IBD patients, Rachel and Nigel, share their experiences and perspectives on living with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes39Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessMedicine

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Artwork for Wrestling the Octopus

Latest Episodes

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Crohn's patient, Rob returns to speak with us on Wrestling the Octopus: the IBD patient podcast, 12 months after his terminal ileum surgery. He shares an honest, detailed account of the physical and emotional journey of recovery, th... more

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In our latest episode of Wrestling the Octopus: the IBD Patient Podcast, Nigel and I chat with Professor Peter Irving, IBD consultant at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital in London, about the confusing but incredibly common overlap betwee... more

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In this candid episode of Wrestling the Octopus: The IBD Patient Podcast, Rachel and Nigel dive deep into the lived reality of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) - from emergency symptoms to complex procedures, new medications, bowel ... more

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In honour of World IBD Day 2026, Nigel has curated his "best bits" from our Wrestling the Octopus: The IBD Patient Podcast over the last 12 months.

If you're living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis - or caring for those w... more

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Recent Guests

Neil Barker
IBD patient and cancer survivor who shares his personal health journey
Independent patient advocate
Episode: #32 How to find resilience in chronic illness: IBD and cancer patient, Neil Barker shares his story
Beverley Hunt
Professor of Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Episode: #31 Understanding Blood Clots and IBD - with Professor Beverley Hunt OBE
Natasha Rolls
Lead stoma care nurse at Bristol Royal Infirmary and Western Hospitals
Stoma care team
Episode: #30 Top tips for living with a stoma in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (IBD)
Sreelakshmi Kotha
Hepatology consultant, guest on episode about PSC and liver disease in IBD
Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London
Episode: #29 Understanding Liver Disease in IBD - with Dr Sree Kotha and Dr Phil Berry
Phil Berry
Consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist with an interest in medical ethics
Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London
Episode: #29 Understanding Liver Disease in IBD - with Dr Sree Kotha and Dr Phil Berry
James East
Professor of gastroenterology, lead author of British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on colorectal cancer risk in IBD
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
Episode: #27 Understanding colorectal cancer risk in IBD - with Professor James East
Nathan Constantine-Cooke
Post-doctoral research associate in health data science
Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh
Episode: #26 IBD flares and diet - What does the new PREdiCCT study tell us?
Dr. Jami Kinnucan
IBD specialist at Mayo Clinic Florida
Mayo Clinic Florida
Episode: #25 Medical cannabis use in IBD - with Dr Jami Kinnucan from Mayo Clinic, Florida
Raj Mankotia
Consultant general and colorectal surgeon
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Episode: #24 An introduction to IBD surgery - with consultant colorectal surgeon, Raj Mankotia

Hosts

Rachel
Host with long-standing experience sharing patient perspectives; focuses on patient education, community support, and lived-experience storytelling.
Nigel
Co-host who discusses managing multiple health conditions, treatment decisions, and advocacy within the IBD community.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings
  • Brilliant

    Rachel and Nigel are both knowledgeable and personable in their approach. I find the podcasts to be some of the only audio related content about bowel disease that I can listen to without my anxiety being sent through the roof. There is no doom and gloom just a bit of honest practical advice and conversation. Very grateful to you both for your in-put.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ADWADMH
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • A must listen for anyone with IBD

    I didn’t realise how much I needed to listen to other people with Crohn’s. This is SO good. Thank you both for recording it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MrsGomezUK
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Great podcast for those with (or without) IBD.

    As a CD sufferer I found this to be very informative. I’m looking forward to listening to the rest of the series.

    Australia.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Trudy3113
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the candid, first-hand IBD perspectives from those living with the condition.
Sponsorship requests likely appreciate the genuine, patient-centered approach and practical discussions.
Positive feedback on building community and sharing patient experiences over clinical language.
Praise for actionable tips and relatable, empathetic storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#30 Top tips for living with a stoma in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (IBD)
Q: How soon after surgery can a patient start learning to change their bag and regain independence?
Recovery is highly individual; some inpatients can start learning to manage their bag within days, while others may take longer depending on recovery, dexterity, and psychological readiness; however, many patients can become proficient relatively quickly with proper pre-op preparation and perioperative support.
#30 Top tips for living with a stoma in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (IBD)
Q: At what point does the stoma nurse get involved in the process?
The stoma nurse should be involved as early as possible in the course of diagnosis and treatment planning for IBD, ideally to discuss options, set expectations, and begin preoperative and postoperative support.
#27 Understanding colorectal cancer risk in IBD - with Professor James East
Q: What is the role of biomarkers and AI in future surveillance strategies?
Biomarkers in stool or blood tests could help identify pre-cancerous changes, reducing the need for routine colonoscopies; AI and genetic/molecular tests may assist in distinguishing IBD-related changes from non-IBD changes, guiding who truly needs invasive surveillance.
#27 Understanding colorectal cancer risk in IBD - with Professor James East
Q: Who is at highest risk within IBD, and how is this used to tailor surveillance?
Higher risk is driven by inflammation severity and extent of disease, with factors like family history, PSC, and polyps indicating greater risk; a risk calculator combines several factors to personalize surveillance intervals and guide decisions on colonoscopy frequency.
#26 IBD flares and diet - What does the new PREdiCCT study tell us?
Q: Can you explain in simple lay terms what the Predict Study was trying to discover and why this matters to patients living with IBD?
The Predict Study aimed to identify what factors trigger flares in IBD by enrolling patients in remission, collecting lifestyle and dietary data, and following them to see who flares. By comparing subjective reports with objective measures like fecal calprotectin and CRP, the study sought to determine which factors truly predict flares and how clinicians can use this information to manage patients more effectively.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Wrestling the Octopus

What is Wrestling the Octopus about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two long-term IBD patients share candid, experience-rich conversations about living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Across episodes, the show emphasizes patient education, practical strategies for navigating procedures and tests, and building community support, with topics ranging from surgeries and stoma life to newer therapies, imaging in care, and the psychosocial journey of chronic illness. Noteworthy is the strong emphasis on patient voices over clinical shorthand, plus occasional outlooks on AI in healthcare and women's health in IBD, making it a practical, empathetic resource for patients, caregivers, and clinicians seeking a grounded, real-world perspective.

Listeners are likely drawn to insightful, experience-based di... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Wrestling the Octopus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Wrestling the Octopus:

1. The News Agents
2. The Rest Is Politics
3. Americast

How many episodes of Wrestling the Octopus are there?

Wrestling the Octopus launched a year ago and published 39 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Wrestling the Octopus?

Recent guests on Wrestling the Octopus include:

1. Neil Barker
2. Beverley Hunt
3. Natasha Rolls
4. Sreelakshmi Kotha
5. Phil Berry
6. James East
7. Nathan Constantine-Cooke
8. Dr. Jami Kinnucan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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