Claim OwnershipBeyond the Symptoms | An Expert Interview Series by LUF | Live UTI Free
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Description
Beyond the Symptoms is an interview series by Live UTI Free (LUF) that explores the science, solutions, and stories behind pelvic health, UTIs, and chronic urinary infections.
Host Melissa Kramer engages in deep conversations with leading medical experts, researchers, and healthcare innovators who share breakthrough insights beyond conventional diagnoses and treatments.
Each episode uncovers cutting-edge research on biofilms, embedded infections, antibiotic resistance, and innovative diagnostic approaches while examining how these conditions impact quality of life. Whether you're a patient navigating recurrent UTIs, interstitial cystitis, or chronic pelvic pain, a healthcare practitioner seeking evidence-based approaches, or a curious mind interested in women's health advocacy, this podcast provides actionable information about complex pelvic health conditions.
Episodes feature world-renowned urologists, urogynecologists, researchers, and patient advocates sharing clinical insights and practical strategies.
Explore our comprehensive resources at liveutifree.com, find additional studies at linktr.ee/liveutifree, watch video interviews on YouTube (@LiveUTIFree), and join our supportive community on Instagram (@liveutifree).
24 Episodes
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Join host Melissa from Live UTI Free as she speaks with Dr. Indira Mysorekar, a pioneer in urinary tract infection research whose lab uncovered how Escherichia coli can hide in reservoirs within the bladder and then re‑emerge to trigger recurrent UTIs. Together, they explore how bladder health differs between people assigned female at birth and those assigned male, how menopause and chronic inflammation increase UTI risk, and what the future of diagnostics and care might look like. Whether yo...
In this episode of the Live UTI Free Podcast, host Melissa Kramer talks with Professor Chris Harding, Consultant Urological Surgeon at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Urology at Newcastle University. They explore the VESPER clinical trial, a landmark study for people with recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) who haven’t improved with first-line prevention. Together, they discuss how bladder instillations work at home, why this trial focuses on real-...
In this episode, host Melissa Kramer speaks with Amanda Burkardt and Dr. Mayukh Das from Phiogen, a biotechnology company developing bacteriophage (phage) therapeutics for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). They describe how their novel approach utilizes targeted viruses to eliminate UTI-causing bacteria, without harming the microbiome. You’ll hear how Phiogen’s science tackles the most challenging cases, including chronic and antibiotic-resistant UTIs, and why they’re inviting patien...
In this episode of the Live UTI Free Podcast, Melissa speaks with Dr. Lindsay Burnett, a physician-scientist in urogynecology, about the complex relationship between pelvic floor disorders, the urinary microbiome, and recurrent UTI symptoms. Dr. Burnett draws from her clinical and research experience to unpack the often misunderstood differences between acute, recurrent, and chronic UTIs. She also explains how urinary symptoms can be influenced by prolapse, incontinence, urethral sensitivity,...
In this episode of the LUF podcast, host Melissa Kramer sits down with Dr. Nick Parkinson, Scientific Director at the UK-based Systems Biology Laboratory. Driven by a personal experience with his young daughter’s recurring, culture-negative UTIs, Dr. Parkinson’s team developed a groundbreaking DNA‑based test that bypasses traditional culture and PCR methods. Using nanopore sequencing, they analyze urine and vaginal samples directly, identifying bacteria, yeasts, viruses, plasmids, and phages ...
Guest host Jess Price, Patient Involvement Advisor at Live UTI Free, sits down with naturopathic doctor Carley Akehurst to unpack a powerful new resource for chronic UTI patients: the My UTI History Form. As a chronic UTI patient herself, Jess brings the lived experience perspective to this conversation, asking the questions many patients wish they had the confidence or clarity to ask in the clinic. Together, she and Dr. Akehurst explore how this patient-developed form can transform clinical ...
Host Melissa Kramer interviews Dr. Nicholas Sanford, Vice President of Medical Affairs and Assistant Laboratory Director at MicroGenDX, to explore how advanced molecular testing is transforming the landscape of UTI diagnosis. If you’ve ever had UTI symptoms but were told your test was “negative,” this episode explains why standard tests like dipsticks and cultures often miss infections—and what other options are available. Dr. Sanford shares how MicroGenDX’s qPCR + NGS testing approach offers...
Host Melissa Kramer interviews UK-based nutritional therapist Beverley Sarstedt on the role of nutrition, gut health, and individualized care in the recovery from chronic and recurrent UTIs. Beverley shares her journey from personal health crisis to clinical practice, and how working alongside chronic UTI experts, such as Ruth Kriz and Dr. Jessica Drummond, has shaped her approach. This episode explores the complexities of food sensitivities, microbiome health, histamine overload, and long-te...
In this eye-opening episode, host Melissa Kramer interviews Dr. Shaheen Khazali, a specialist who has performed over 4,000 endometriosis surgeries, on the complexities of endometriosis, especially when symptoms overlap with recurrent UTI and bladder pain. They explore what endometriosis really is, where it can appear (including in the urinary tract), how it may be mistaken for IBS or UTI, and why so many patients go years without a diagnosis. Dr. Khazali also shares current thinking on diagno...
Host Melissa Kramer interviews Dr. Catriona Anderson, a UK-based women’s health doctor and founder of a diagnostics lab focused on enhanced UTI testing. Together, they explore Hiprex—what it is, how it works, and its potential role in managing recurrent and chronic UTIs. Dr. Anderson breaks down the science behind this over-the-counter urinary antiseptic, explaining its dual-action mechanism, how it functions as both bactericidal and bacteriostatic, and why it stands out as a non-antibiotic o...
Host Melissa Kramer interviews Dr. Philippe Zimmern, a leading expert in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, about bladder fulguration—a lesser-known but potentially transformative treatment for recurrent and chronic UTIs. Dr. Zimmern shares his clinical insights, research findings, and practical guidance on when this procedure is appropriate and how it works. From discovering hidden bacterial communities in the bladder wall to explaining why some infections return despite anti...
Host Melissa Kramer interviews Dr. Ashley Girard, a naturopathic doctor specializing in chronic UTI treatment, recurrent UTI prevention, and bladder health, on chronic UTI, bladder health, and naturopathic treatment. Dr. Girard shares how naturopathic medicine offers a personalized, root-cause approach to managing chronic UTIs—prioritizing long-term healing over temporary symptom relief. She highlights the role of herbal remedies, the importance of addressing inflammation, and how individuali...
Host Melissa Kramer Interviews Dr. Soman Abraham, a professor of Pathology at Duke University, on Chronic and Recurrent UTIs. Together, they unpack why some UTIs resolve quickly while others persist or recur, leaving patients in a frustrating cycle of symptoms and treatment. Dr. Abraham shares new insights into how the bladder’s immune system functions and why current antibiotic treatments may fail to eliminate bacteria embedded in bladder tissue. This discussion introduces a promising vaccin...
Host Melissa Kramer, founder of Live UTI Free, interviews Dr. Brianne Grogan, a pelvic health expert on Chronic UTI, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, & Bladder Health. Dr. Grogan shares her personal journey with pelvic organ prolapse, demystifies the role of pelvic floor muscles in urinary function, and provides practical, body-positive strategies for managing symptoms that often accompany recurrent UTI, such as pelvic tension, incomplete bladder emptying, and discomfort during urination. Togeth...
Host Melissa Kramer, founder of Live UTI Free, interviews Dr. Sachin Malde, a consultant urologist with a specialist focus in functional urology, chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), and bladder pain syndrome, on bladder instillations for chronic and recurrent UTIs. The discussion explores an increasingly common treatment for those living with chronic UTI and recurrent urinary symptoms: bladder instillations. Dr. Malde explains the science behind intravesical therapy, outlining antibiotic...
Host Melissa Kramer Interviews Alina Filipe, a leading pelvic floor physiotherapist, on Chronic UTIs and Bladder Health. Together, they explore the overlooked connection between pelvic floor dysfunction and chronic urinary tract infections, offering practical, evidence-informed insights to help listeners find relief when antibiotics alone aren’t enough. If you’re frustrated by recurring UTIs, lingering symptoms, or want to understand better the anatomy that affects your bladder health, this e...
Host Melissa Kramer Interviews Dr. Michael Hsieh, a leading expert in recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder health, and urology, to unpack the truth about chronic UTI testing and bladder health. Dr. Hsieh dives deep into the reliability of standard UTI tests and why they may often present false negatives, especially in people suffering from chronic UTI symptoms. Together, they explore emerging research, the hidden causes of persistent urinary symptoms, and innovative, science-bac...
Host Melissa Kramer Interviews Dr. Sula Windgassen, a renowned health psychologist and expert in the psychology of chronic illness, on the Mind-Body Connection in Chronic UTI Healing. Dr. Windgassen opens up about her personal journey with recurrent UTIs and shares how integrating psychological strategies transformed her approach to bladder health and symptom management. This episode delves into the critical yet often overlooked mind-body connection in chronic illness, especially in those nav...
Host Melissa Kramer Interviews Dr. Stewart Bundrick, a renowned specialist in recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bladder health, on Chronic UTI & Bladder Health In this compelling episode, Dr. Stewart, who has decades of experience treating chronic UTIs, challenges outdated treatment models and highlights why many patients continue to suffer without lasting relief. If you're navigating the frustrating cycle of recurrent UTIs or have been diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis (IC...
Host Melissa Kramer speaks to Dr. Angelish Kumar, board-certified urologist and founder of Women's Urology New York, in a powerful continuation of their discussion on chronic UTI, recurrent UTI, and overall bladder health. Dr. Kumar shares her clinical insights into diagnosing and managing persistent urinary symptoms, pelvic floor dysfunction, and long-term bladder inflammation. This episode offers practical guidance to help you determine whether your symptoms stem from an ongoing infection o...
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