Podcast
Two PhDs on a Pod
Two PhDs on a Pod is where cutting-edge science meets real-world health.
Hosted by Momo Vuyisich, PhD (Founding CSO of Viome) and Guru Banavar, PhD (Founding CTO of Viome), the podcast explores the intersection of biology, artificial intelligence, and personalized nutrition. Together, they break down the complex science behind how our bodies actually work—and what that means for living longer, healthier lives.
Momo, a systems biologist, has focused on the biochemistry of the human body and the trillions of microbes that live within us. Guru, an AI and data science expert, develops computational systems that make sense of massive biological datasets. Together, they bring two complementary perspectives required to understand and translate the complexity of human biology and how it impacts health.
Each episode will explain in simple terms the dynamic biology that makes each of us unique, and provide practical advice on how to apply these insights in daily life.
- Episodes
- 17
- Releases
- Every two weeks
- Typical length
- 1 hr 12 min
- On air since
- 2026
- Latest episode
- 1 week ago
Episodes
17 episodes, newest first
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1 hr 21 min
Can Probiotics Protect Your Bones? Clinical Trial Evidence and the Science of Bone Health
Episode 17
Show notes
Your bones are living tissue, and your gut has a say in how they hold up. Momo Vuyisich and Guru Banavar talk with Alicia Ballok, PhD, Discovery Director of Solaria Bio, about why bone loss is a silent epidemic, how microbial short-chain fatty acids calm inflammation and slow the cells that break bone down, and what a year-long trial in 286 women found. Plus: practical takeaways on DEXA scans, calcium, impact exercise and hormones, lentils, and a new study linking a gut-made fatty acid to artery health.
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1 hr 41 min
AI Without the Hype: What’s Real, What’s Not, and How It Works
Episode 16
Show notes
What does AI actually do well, and where does it fall apart? Momo Vuyisich, PhD, and Guru Banavar, PhD, start with a chest X-ray model that looked nearly perfect until it reached the clinic, then trace AI from 1980s expert systems to today's large language models and AlphaFold. You'll learn how machines learn, how statistics, machine learning, and AI differ, how diagnostic models are validated, the red flags to watch for in AI research claims, and where Guru thinks we are on the road to general AI.
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1 hr 12 min
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange and the Science of Health & Longevity
Episode 15
Show notes
Can removing something from your blood make you healthier? Emergency physician Dr. Brad Younggren joins hosts Momo Vuyisich, PhD, and Guru Banavar, PhD, to explain therapeutic plasma exchange: how it works, what the Circulate trial found across 35 biological aging clocks, what the AMBAR Alzheimer’s trial showed, why one session usually isn’t enough, and what we know (and don’t) about removing microplastics. Plus, gut bacteria that turn dietary choline into immune signals, and the promise and limits of multi-cancer blood tests.
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1 hr 28 min
How Your Oral Health Affects Your Heart, Brain, and Overall Health
Episode 14
Show notes
Everyone knows the Zuckerberg who built Facebook. But some know his father, Dr. Ed Zuckerberg, a dentist and technologist who joins hosts Momo Vuyisich and Guru Banavar to explore a different network: the one linking your mouth to your whole body. Learn how oral bacteria may influence the brain, heart, and metabolism, why microbial activity matters more than presence, and how saliva testing could reshape preventive care.
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1 hr 35 min
Why We Need to Rethink How We Treat Chronic Disease
Episode 13
Show notes
In this episode, Momo and Guru talk with Dr. Jeff Bland, a pioneer in functional medicine, who discusses the systemic approach to health, the importance of understanding root causes, and how personalized medicine is transforming healthcare. Learn how systems biology and innovative diagnostics are shaping the future of medicine.
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1 hr 11 min
What the Most Measured Human Can Teach Us About Health
Episode 12
Show notes
Dr. Michael Snyder of Stanford may be the most measured person in the world. He joins hosts Momo Vuyisich, PhD and Guru Banavar, PhD to explore what deep, continuous data reveals about our health — how he predicted his own diabetes, why microbial activity beats a list of microbes, how wearables can flag trouble before symptoms, and what a future of at-home measurement could look like. Plus food, hormones, and the science behind the latest health headlines.
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1 hr 10 min
Gut Health PRO
Episode 11
Show notes
Your gastroenterologist can spot a polyp, but what about the bloating, pain, and irregularity that fill most GI visits? Hosts Momo Vuyisich and Guru Banavar talk with gastroenterologist Dr. Michael Bass about Viome's Gut Health Pro: why measuring microbial activity (not just which bacteria are present) reveals what's actually driving symptoms, how food modulates the gut, and what the science says about treating the root cause instead of guessing.
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1 hr 6 min
The Future of Medicine is AI
Episode 10
Show notes
Entrepreneur and investor Vinod Khosla (co-founder of Sun Microsystems, founder of Khosla Ventures) joins Momo and Guru to explore how AI is reshaping medicine. Learn why expert medical knowledge is now nearly free, how daily engagement drives preventive health, why many supplement studies mislead, how AI reads molecular and microbiome data at scale, and what regulation and reimbursement must change. A candid look at personalized, preventive, and longevity medicine. Hosted by Momo Vuyisich, PhD and Guru Banavar, PhD.
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1 hr 39 min
Preventative Lifestyle Medicine
Episode 9
Show notes
In this episode, Momo and Guru welcome Dr. Dawn Mussallem, who shares her inspiring journey from heart transplant patient to leading preventive medicine advocate, and her passion for health and longevity. Together, they explore cutting-edge diagnostics, personalized nutrition, and celebrate the power of resilience.
Find out more about Viome and Viome Life Sciences at https://www.viome.com/ and https://www.viomelifesciences.com/
Health Practitioners who would like more information on Gut Health Pro, Oral Health Pro, and Precision Health Pro, please visit http://www.viomepro.com
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1 hr 9 min
Translating Microbiome Science to Precision Nutrition
Episode 8
Show notes
Guru, Momo, along with Viome Precision Nutrition Scientists Janelle and Grant, explore the fascinating world of personalized nutrition, microbiome science, and how Viome's innovative testing and AI-driven recommendations can transform health and wellness. Discover how complex molecular data translates into practical dietary advice tailored to your unique biology.
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1 hr 19 min
Gas Production!
Episode 7
Show notes
Join Momo and Guru as they explore the fascinating world of gut microbiome, gas production, and their impact on health with experts Dr. Eric Patridge and Dr. Matthew Molusky. Learn how bioinformatics, molecular science, and personalized nutrition converge to reveal insights into gut health and disease prevention.
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1 hr 16 min
From Poop to Data: Understanding the Language of Microbes
Episode 6
Show notes
Discover how Viome's RNA sequencing and bioinformatics turn microbiome data into personalized health insights and wellness breakthroughs.
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1 hr 18 min
Why "Healthy" Foods Spike Your Sugar
Episode 5
Show notes
In today's episode, Momo and Guru explore a vital question: Why do different foods affect blood sugar levels differently in people? This topic is crucial for anyone interested in personalized nutrition, as understanding your unique biological response can significantly impact your metabolic health.
Guests:
Damon Tanton, MD
Medical Director of Clinical Practice
AdventHealth Diabetes InstituteEric Patridge, PhD
Principal Scientist, Computational Systems Biology
Viome Life Sciences -
1 hr 2 min
DNA is Not Your Destiny!
Episode 4
Show notes
Your DNA isn't your destiny — RNA is. Two PhDs unpack gene expression, microbiome science, and what your body is actually doing right now.
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1 hr 12 min
Your Microbiome is Your Best Friend
Episode 3
Show notes
Explore the fascinating world of the human microbiome, its functions, and its impact on health with experts Momo and Guru. Discover how microbes influence everything from vitamin production to immune response and how to optimize your microbiome for better health.
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1 hr 4 min
Are There Universal Superfoods?
Episode 2
Show notes
Momo & Guru argue no food is universally healthy — your microbiome determines how you respond to even the most celebrated superfoods.
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40 min
Biology sets the table; AI serves the meal
Season 1, Episode 1
Show notes
Momo and Guru introduce the science behind personalized health, explaining how biology, the microbiome, and AI can help move us from one-size-fits-all medicine to truly individualized nutrition and prevention.
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